Three years ago, Baptist Health committed to supporting healthier lifestyles for its employees and local communities by hosting farmers markets on its Little Rock and North Little Rock campuses.
“We seek to be an organization that’s about health and not just health care,” said Troy Wells, Baptist Health president and CEO.
Conway residents now have access to homegrown produce from local farmers, too.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, free-range chicken eggs, honey, baked goods, gourmet coffees, and more will be available for purchase from approximately 20 Arkansas farmers, vendors, and food trucks that will be on hand each week until the end of July.
The first farmers market kicks off in Little Rock on June 6, and will be held every Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the ground level of the main parking deck. Farmer's markets will also be held at Conway, every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (located in the front parking lot) and at North Little Rock, every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., near the Rehab and Women’s Center entrance.
There are even plans to have a mini-satellite Baptist Health- sponsored farmers market at the Promenade Shopping Center in Little Rock on Friday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to produce for sale, the newly christened Baptist Health mobile kitchen will be on hand for cooking demonstrations.
The mobile kitchen will be utilized at other farmers markets, as well as at the Farmbox2Family Charity Food Box Program sites. The Farmbox2Family Charity Food Box Program was the brainchild of local farmer Richard Tanner. Through Tanner’s relationship with Baptist Health and the healthcare system’s foundation, he was able to realize his dream of feeding Arkansans in need.
In its second year, the program, spearheaded by Baptist Health, is supported by more than 14 restaurants, 16 professional chefs, List-Penick FarmBox2Family Foundation, Ben J. Altheimer Charitable Foundation, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention, Arkansas Department of Health, and the Pulaski Tech Culinary and Hospitality Institute.
Not only does the FarmBox2Family Charity Food Box Program provide fresh, healthy produce for low-income individuals and communities, it also provides those same people with nutritional education, healthy recipes, and cooking demonstrations, all in the effort to change unhealthy eating habits into healthier ones. Another goal is to help recipients understand how they can afford healthy foods by using their SNAP benefits. SNAP is accepted at the Baptist Health Farmers Markets, and wherever Charity Food Boxes are provided.
Last year, 1,000 boxes of free food were given to Little Rock residents identified by the Arkansas Department of Health as well as residents of Altheimer. Each year, the program is expected to be offered in a new community where fresh produce is not accessible.
Baptist Health is a proud supporter of Healthy Active Arkansas. The plan is endorsed by the governor and the Arkansas Hospital Association and focuses on nine areas tied to increasing the health of Arkansans through healthy dietary choices and increased physical activity. The farmers markets and Farmbox2Family Charity Food Box Program are two ways the healthcare system is promoting a Healthy Active Arkansas.
To learn more about Baptist Health, call Baptist Health HealthLine at (888) BAPTIST or visit the website at baptist-health.com.