Thousands of people attended Ugly Potato Day at the Cloverdale fairgrounds Saturday (Oct. 19).

The Heppell potato farming family started Ugly Potato Day in 2022 to help reduce the number of edible potatoes that go to waste due to their odd shape, growth cracks or bruises. It also helps battle food insecurity in the region, as the initiative invites residents to stop by the event and fill up on the still-delicious produce for free.

Tyler Heppell said the overall feeling of Saturday's event was panic.

"This is insane," Heppell said. "I never thought this many people would show up, especially because of the rain. We got over 5,000 people right now in line up to get in here and we've had 1000's through this is gonna be our biggest day by far."

Heppell said they expected over 15,000 people by the end of the event. Around noon, Heppell posted a video to social media asking people not to come to the event as it would "take hours" for the thousands already in line to get in. He added they have started turning people away.

The line to enter the event at Shannon Hall stretched back through the parking lots past the Cloverdale Agriplex. Some people held tarps over their heads to try and keep themselves and those around them dry as they waited.

Heppell's message to all levels of government is that the food system in Canada is broken.

"The fact that people are willing to wait in a line up for two hours in the pouring rain to get 20 pounds of free produce just goes to show how broken our system is and how no one can really afford to live here especially in Vancouver," he said.

He added that this event reminds us why it is essential to buy produce from local farmers. "It's 12 local farmers who came together to say, you know what? Our communities are hurting right now, and we want to take care of them."

Heppell said farmers from other countries will not be the ones putting on these events locally; it will be the local farmers who are helping their community.

"That's why, when you're in store and you see potatoes from the United States and you see potatoes from Canada, buy the potatoes from Canada, even if it's a bit more, that supports our local farms."

This is the second event they had at the fairgrounds. The event grew so popular, attracting more than 4,000 people each time, that the family had to move the event from its family farm to a much larger venue.

-With files from Tricia Weel