Our
plans were delayed with last week’s storm, so we invite everyone to come out
this week to Pathfinder Produce on Thursday and Friday, March 23 in Edmeston,
and March 24 in Morris, to help us celebrate our FOURTH ANNIVERSARY.
We will host cooking demonstrations of a zesty Fried Cabbage & Apple
recipe, offer yummy samples, and continue our celebration of World Down Syndrome Day with 21-cent baked treats
from Pathfinder Bakery, decorated in blue and yellow for you to enjoy. (Caveat:
Make sure you eat your veggies first, and try to burn off the calories with a
little extra walking, dancing, ping pong, treadmill jogs, active games, or what
have you.).
On
the 23rd & 24th, we will also extend 5% off on all purchases, and we're
introducing a new Referral Incentive Program: If you are a steady patron of
Pathfinder Produce, and you sign-up and refer a new customer, you both get 10%
off on your next purchase. Our market works to keep prices low every week, so
this new program could amount to some great savings.
We’ve
also launched a new Facebook group, #DsRocks, to join the
global celebration of World Down Syndrome Day this week. The #DsRocks
Project is a way through which people show support for those with Trisomy 21
through positive messages on hand-painted stones. To learn more and take
part, visit the Facebook group page. Join us in the fun!
***
Our
adventures with Pathfinder Produce over the past four years really have been
worthwhile. The market works because it answers a local need, creates
meaningful volunteer opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities,
and is rooted in the strength of community.
Back
in late 2012, the staff of Bassett Research Institute developed two pilot 5210 projects, one in Edmeston, the other in Delhi, to help improve
nutrition and encourage fitness at the grass-roots level. Community members
brainstormed with the Bassett team to focus on healthier living, and developed
school events, community gardens, 5ks, and other
projects. In
Edmeston, where there isn't a large grocery store, our committee members
recognized that lack of access to fresh produce was having a negative impact on
health.
It
is a paradox of rural America that people here don't eat
enough fresh veggies and fruits. One chief reason for this is that most people
no longer live or work on farms. People in rural areas, one study found, tend to be more obese
than their urban counterparts. Traditional foodways--growing and
preserving one's own produce through freezing and canning—are largely gone,
replaced with semi-monthly or monthly “big shops” of foods sold at large
grocery stores in more-populated areas. Families and seniors fill-in between big shops, typically buying bread and
milk with what's available at smaller stores that are part of rural towns.
We
wanted to sell produce, but how could we do this effectively? We knew we didn't
have the resources to be a full-time greengrocer. Instead, we used the
historic model of “market day” that was common in many
cultures from the past. We thought if we advertised using flyers, posters,
word-of-mouth and social media, and kept our prices competitive, we could
attract a steady clientele. We really didn't know what to expect at our first
market, and were nervous. However, on that first Thursday, March 14, 2013, we
opened our doors and had a steady stream of customers all afternoon, indicating
that we'd hit upon a way to serve families in the Edmeston area. Since
that time, we've offered markets nearly every week in Edmeston, and launched
our second location in October 2016 in partnership with the UMC in Morris,
where we open up shop on Friday afternoons.
Our
market works through the great community support we have, the dedication of our
volunteers, and because of the incredible dedication of the members of
Pathfinder's Adult Day Services program. These folks set up the market each
week, inspect and arrange the produce and other items we bring in from various
vendors, and help weigh purchases, and bag purchases for our customers. You can
tell that everyone is on-board with working at the markets, and loves to engage
our friends and neighbors.
“I
feel good about the market,” said volunteer Brandy Mockoviaciak of
Edmeston. “I like to help customers. My favorite part is packing
baskets.”
Until
next time, we thank you for your continued support of Pathfinder Produce, the
“little market that could.”
Lori
