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Follow on Google News | Farm It Forward Gets Local Produce to People in NeedFarm It Forward program is a new partnership among Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) and local Wake County farmers. A community supported agriculture (CSA) program, Farm It Forward benefits Wake County citizens in need.
By: Michele McKinley Market will host brunch on May 8, Mother’s Day, from 10 am-3 pm, and feature the Farm It Forward Frittata and Strawberry Mint Julep, made with all local ingredients donated by local farms Ben’s Produce and New Grass Gardens. All proceeds from the frittata and the drink will be donated to support Farm It Forward shares for community members in need. Ben’s Produce also will sell flowers and bedding plants at Market on May 8 to raise funds for the program. Farm It Forward was conceived by farmers Ben Shields and Patricia Parker of Ben’s Produce. “Farm It Forward is about helping food insecure people in our area have access to locally grown healthy foods,” Shields said. “Community is very important to us; our mission is to strive for healthier people, community and agriculture by growing and sharing the best food we can. Working with AHA on this project has enabled us to connect with people who are food insecure but not necessarily receiving benefits for food.” AHA is coordinating with Energize!, a WakeMed Children’s Diabetes & Endocrinology Program to identify Farm It Forward shares recipients. Energize! is dedicated to helping kids aged 6 to 18 reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and the program teaches young people and their families how to build lifelong healthy attitudes about food and fitness. Sixty percent of Energize participants are low-income. “Connecting Farm It Forward with Energize! is a great way to increase access to healthy foods for people in Wake County who have a real need,” commented Laura Aiken, director of AHA and community outreach for WakeMed. “Plus this engages farmers and provides an additional way to support them. CSAs help farmers as community members invest financially in local farms and help defray the significant costs of planting for a season by purchasing shares,” Aiken added. Farm It Forward launches this spring with support from AHA and financial donations from the community. Donations are welcome; checks payable to WakeMed with Advocates for Health in Action in the subject line may be mailed to WakeMed, 3000 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27610, ATTN: Laura Aiken. Brunch at Market A health-focused eatery in downtown Raleigh, Market Restaurant is committed to serving fresh, seasonal dishes made of locally grown ingredients. A variety of child-friendly food options are available, and every attempt is made to accommodate special diets. Call-ahead seating is recommended; About Advocates for Health in Action Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) is a group of more than 50 diverse organizations and community members who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County so healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life. AHA works to achieve its mission by shaping policy and environments that ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members. www.AdvocatesForHealthInAction.org About Ben’s Produce Ben’s Produce, located in Clayton, N.C. , offers produce of the highest quality and taste in the Triangle. Ben Shields and Patricia Parker are in their second year of farming independently at Ben’s Produce, though they have been farming with family and friends for year. Ben’s Produce sells its produce at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) in Cary and through CSA shares at WWFM and the Five Points CSA in Raleigh. About New Grass Gardens New Grass Gardens is an urban farming venture in Raleigh that began with a few small raised beds, two people and a bag of donated seeds. New Grass Gardens grows biointensively, capitalizing on the discarded and overlooked resources of the city. Through cooperative resource redistribution, community education and dedication to stewardship, New Grass Gardens hopes to illuminate system problems in our food systems and offer an alternative: About Energize! A WakeMed Children’s Diabetes & Endocrinology program, Energize! is a 12-week, 3 night a week, community-based intensive education and lifestyle change program, including lessons in nutrition, physical fitness, and behavior change education. Energize! is dedicated to helping kids ages 6 to 18 reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. http://www.wakemed.org/ End
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