Locally sourced fruits, vegetables and honey will be available at a farmers market opening at Carolinas Medical Center - University on April 23.
The market is an extension of Carolinas HealthCare System’s efforts to improve community health.
“Eating more fruits and vegetables is the easiest way to prevent chronic disease,” said Elaine Jones, clinical nutrition manager for CMC-University and the manager of the farmers market project.
People are more likely to eat food that tastes good – and, Jones said, “The flavors of freshly picked produce can’t even compare to commercially purchased food.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2011, more than one-third of adolescents said they ate fruit and vegetables less than once a day. In addition, 23 percent of adults said they ate vegetables less than once a day.
A city girl who always wanted to grow and plant, Jones also oversees the hospital’s teaching garden. She got involved in the garden and farmers market because of a passion for the benefits and flavors of truly fresh food.
“I love seeing the appreciation on people’s faces the first time they have tasted truly fresh produce – straight from the farmer, straight from the plant,” she said.
Throughout the growing season, local chefs will host cooking demonstrations in garden’s outdoor kitchen, showcasing seasonal produce. Visitors are also invited to come to the garden to see how food looks while it is still on the plant.
The market will be open every Thursday through the end of October from 4 to 7 p.m. and will accept SNAP/EBT. Farmers market customers should enter the hospital grounds from North Tryon and follow the main road around the hospital to the 2nd parking lot on the left.
