Cadbury at Cherry Hill Brings Locally-Grown Produce to its Residents

We all know eating fresh fruits and vegetables is healthy for you, but did you know that eating locally grown produce is even better? The closer foods are grown, the fresher they are, which means they will taste better and be more nutritious. Buying local also means you are supporting area businesses and building community.

Residents of Cadbury at Cherry Hill, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Cherry Hill, N.J., now have the opportunity to enjoy locally-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables right at their dining table. The community, through a wholesale vendor, is buying its produce from Hunter’s Farm Market in Cinnaminson, N.J., and the residents couldn’t be happier.

“We gathered feedback from our residents about our dining program, and so many of them requested that we buy our produce locally,” said Faye Deering, Cadbury at Cherry Hill Food Committee president. “New Jersey has the best produce around, so why shouldn’t we be eating from the local farms?

From string beans picked right off the vine, to sweet white corn just husked, Cadbury at Cherry Hill residents have been looking forward to their meals knowing they are eating the fresh produce. To introduce the farm’s produce to the residents, the chefs prepared a caprese salad, made with New Jersey tomatoes, mozzarella and basil and the residents thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The residents love fresh produce, from the Jersey tomatoes, to corn on the cob, to blueberries,” added John Hanstein, Cadbury at Cherry Hill Dining Services director. “They know fresh from frozen and canned. I have given a number of resident tours of our kitchen and other tours are scheduled. They see what is fresh because I show them everything in the kitchen. This is their home and we want them to take an active role in what food we serve them.”

Here are some of the benefits of buying locally-grown foods:

• Local farmers tend to use fewer chemicals than the large factory farms use. 
• Locally-grown foods are tastier because they are fresher and keep longer in your refrigerator because they have not been sitting around as long as other produce. 
• Locally grown foods have more nutritional value because they are fresher. Local foods have been grown within a 100- to 200-mile radius of where they are delivered. Grocery store produce are shipped in trucks or even planes from very long distances and sit in warehouses and grocery store shelves before hitting your plate. The less time that passes between the harvest and the sale, the more nutrients it will have. 
• Supporting local farmers is important so there can be an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and it puts money back into the local community. 

“We very much appreciate that our community is working in conjunction with Hunter’s Farm Market,” said Deering. “I grew up on farms, so I am accustomed to eating everything freshly picked. The corn melts in your mouth and the peaches are so juicy. The residents will all savor them until the last bit is gone for the season. Then we can all look forward to next summer again.”