CRC serves as hub integrating health, wellness and social programs
Published in the Oct. 16, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life.
By Marty Cheek
Photo courtesy Episcopal Senior Center
More than 40 types of fruits and vegetables are offered every Wednesday at the Senior Produce Market located at the Centennial Recreation Center.
More than 40 types of fruits and vegetables are offered every Wednesday at the Senior Produce Market located at the Centennial Recreation Center.
Photo courtesy Episcopal Senior
Center
To encourage Morgan Hill residents to eat more fruits and veggies, the Centennial Recreation Senior Center has teamed with nonprofit organization Episcopal Senior Community to host every Wednesday morning a Senior Produce Market in the recreation center’s entrance lobby.
The Senior Produce Market is part of a pilot project funded by The Health Trust which uses the concept of “hubs” to encourage healthier eating habits, said Susan Fent, senior director of older adult programs and services at the CRC.
“The hub integrates health, wellness and social services programs to increase accessibility to fresh produce, nutrition education, exercise and chronic disease,” Fent said. “The program targets older adults, as well as residents of all ages and socioeconomic levels. With the Centennial Recreation Senior Center providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for South County older adults, the Senior Produce Market provides easy access to fresh and affordable produce.”
Launched in August, the market has been a “resounding success,” Fent said, averaging 115 shoppers for the two hours the market is open every Wednesday morning. Shoppers have been impressed by the quantity of produce, as well as the freshness and prices, she said.
Prices of the produce change from week to week based on a variety of factors — such as accessibility, delivery and transportation costs, and the season of the year. Shoppers are offered between 40 and 50 types of fruits and vegetables each week, ranging from basic items like carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and bananas to more unusual items like tomatillos, red pears, kale, and white peaches.
“We are unique in that we can cater our market to meet the needs of our shoppers, and do our best to order requested items,” said Cara Pardo, senior produce market manager with the Walnut Creek-based ESC. “After multiple requests for a larger selection of organic produce at our grand opening, we were proud to include more than 15 items of organic produce the following week.”
Episcopal Senior Communities provides the basic infrastructure for the program, she said. Additionally, the Department of Public Health provides easy recipes that match the produce of the day, and CareMore, a Medicare healthcare company, provides free blood pressure screening during the market’s operating hours.
“Our primary mission is to serve seniors, particularly those who are potentially isolated, on fixed incomes, or have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Pardo said. “But we have been thrilled by the inter-generational environment created by the Centennial Recreation Center market.”
ESC subsidizes 21 markets in seven northern California counties, serving close to 1,500 seniors every week. The markets are entirely volunteer run, furthering their mission of community and allowing seniors to take ownership of the program. Leftover produce is donated to other organizations as a “mission-within-a-mission” to serve others in need, Pardo said.
“The CRC’s Senior Produce Market has proved to be our largest market yet,” she said. “We’ve served well over 100 people each week, and in our second week sold more than $900 worth of fruits and vegetables. We’ve gotten so many compliments on how beautiful the market looks, as well as its convenient location and commitment to serving the senior community.”
