Anisa Sain of Fairfield receives a bag of fresh produce from Mark Petrill of PetrillÕs Fresh Produce at no cost during the first Farm to Families night at The Groves apartment complex in Fairfield on Thursday. (Ryan Chalk/RChalk@TheReporter.com)
Farm event harvests in FairfieldPosted: 08/28/2009 01:00:29 AM PDT
Talking over cups of fresh fruit smoothies and freshly made salsa, residents of a Fairfield apartment complex gathered Thursday to learn about healthy foods and strengthen the bonds in their community.
Despite the August heat, Fairfield Mayor Harry Price wielded a pair of extra-large scissors and cut the ribbon signaling the first Farm to Families Night at The Groves apartment complex on East Tabor Avenue.
The event featured farm fresh produce for residents, a cooking demonstration, games and a host of information for families about making healthy choices when it comes to health and nutrition.
The event was made possible due to a partnership with The Leaven, Fairfield Quality Neighborhoods and Kaiser Permanente.
Kaiser had successfully implemented the program in communities in Southern California and chose Fairfield as the first Northern California city to implement the program as a pilot.
Price, calling the program a great partnership, said, "This will make a great difference in the lives of so many for years to come. It gives these residents a sense of community."
Mark Lillis, director of The Leaven, a non-profit, faith-based collaborative with the city of Fairfield, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and a collective of local churches, said, "We're just so excited to bring all of these organizations into our community and show that Fairfield really does care."
The Leaven operates two after-school tutoring and mentoring programs in low-income neighborhoods in Fairfield.
Thursday's event was highlighted by a produce stand operated by Mark Petrill of Petrill's Fresh Produce.
Petrill set up a table full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and all participants received a voucher for five pounds of fresh produce at no cost.
With a smile, Petrill distributed the clear plastic bags of mostly local produce that included a vine-ripened tomato, nectarine, two types of peaches, three types of pears, red and black plums and no fewer than four different types of squash.
"I think it's awesome," said Anisa Sain, a resident at The Groves. "We have a lot of kids in the complex so this is good for them."
Sain also signed up for a series of free cooking lessons and said she was going to have her children get their blood pressure checked, another free service provided by Kaiser during the event.
"It's something positive, and there's sometimes a lot of negative that goes on around here," Sain said.
Lillis said that the last time the community came together at the complex was after a July 10 shooting that left one man seriously injured with gunshot wounds to his abdomen.
"What a difference now," Lillis said. "The community can come together for something positive. The residents can come out and enjoy one another and get to know each other. I think thisa really going to catch on."
Farm to Families Night will continue at The Groves from 3 to 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month through December. For more information, call 422-KIDZ (5439).
| 
