The Produce Lady Extols Virtues of Local Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

May 19, 2009 - PRLog -- KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Farmers market stalls teeming with locally grown fruits and vegetables are attracting more customers in search of nutritious, high quality fruit. Many shoppers at farmers markets are looking for ways to prepare and preserve what they buy at market and a new resource from the N.C. State University Program for Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture at the new N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis offers help.

"The Produce Lady" video series tells farmers and consumers the wonders of locally grown fruits and vegetables - the nutrition they provide, the delicious meals or snacks families can enjoy with each vegetable or fruit and how to prepare them as tasty meals and snacks or freeze them to use throughout the year.

The Produce Lady is the moniker for Brenda Bryan Sutton, the new director for Cooperative Extension in Rockingham County. She served as Extension family and consumer sciences agent until recently. Sutton grew up on a family farm in Wake County and knows all about gardening and food preparation, storage and preservation. As a family and consumer sciences agent she taught these skills to others. She works closely with her local farmers markets and she currently raises Shiitake mushrooms and blueberries to sell at market, which gives her first-hand experience in what farmers market vendors experience.

"Local farmers and their contributions to our communities are so important," Sutton said. "I'm delighted to have a chance to help provide helpful tips so people can enjoy the wonderful local foods we're so fortunate to have in North Carolina."

Sutton teamed up with Leah Chester-Davis, coordinator of communications and community outreach for the N.C. State University Program for Value-Added & Alternative Agriculture, who produces the videos. The two work with N.C. State videographer Ken Ellzey. Chester-Davis visited numerous farmers markets last year. More than once, when she asked a farmer for a good way to prepare his or her produce, the farmer responded, "I don't know, I just grow it."

"Many farmers have wonderful suggestions for how to prepare their products, but I realized that many of them could use help in providing information to their customers to keep their customers coming back," Chester-Davis said. "We're working to make this a helpful resource to both farmers and consumers."

Funded with a grant from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, The Produce Lady video series features Sutton, who focuses on a different vegetable or fruit in each video. Sutton explains the nutritional value, when to expect the item at the farmers market, what to look for and how to prepare, store and preserve the item. She always reminds viewers to wash their hands before handling produce and when and how to clean fruits and vegetables. She incorporates fresh produce safety guidelines in all the videos.

The Produce Lady videos can be viewed at (dot)theproducelady(dot)org. Currently, the site contains videos on blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, corn, eggplant, green beans, greens, okra, peppers, Southern peas, squash and strawberries. More videos are in development and will feature North Carolina goat cheese, grass-fed beef and seafood, all items that pair well with produce. The Web site also has helpful, healthy recipes for preparing fruits and vegetables. The site provides news columns that Cooperative Extension agents may localize and provide to their local papers.

This spring, The Produce Lady debuted on Almanac Gardener on UNC-TV across the state. She also found her place in the blogosphere. Twice each month at theproducelady(dot)wordpress(dot)com, Sutton offers timely, no-nonsense tips you can use in the kitchen. Her videos are also being posted to YouTube to reach a wider audience. Find them at (dot)youtube(dot)com/theproducelady.

"The campaign has really taken off," said Chester-Davis. "Brenda has been invited to appear at several markets and other events across the state. "

Among some of the upcoming appearances are:

May 21, 2009, 4 to 7 p.m. - N.C. Research Campus Farmers Market, West Avenue, Kannapolis

May 23, 2009, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Rockingham County Farmers Market, Historic Chinqua Penn, 1944
Wentworth Street, Reidsville

June 5, 2009, 4 to 7 p.m. - Eden Farmers Market, Municipal Parking Lot on Henry Street, Eden

June 20, 2009, 8 a.m. to Noon - Davidson Farmers Market in the town of Davidson

July 16, 2009, 4 to 7 p.m. - N.C. Research Campus Farmers Market, West Avenue, Kannapolis

Sept. 17, 2009, 4 to 7 p.m. - N.C. Research Campus Farmers Market, West Avenue, Kannapolis

Sept. 26, 2009, 12:30 and throughout day - N.C. Museum of History, 5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh