Desert Foods

Hello everyone, we hope you are well!  Things are busy here at Pathfinder Produce, and we can’t wait to see you at our next weekly market in Edmeston on Thursday, from 1 to 5 p.m. With our competitive prices and fresh selections, there are sure to be items you’ll enjoy sharing with your family!

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of research on food deserts:  These are areas that have few stores or other sources for providing families with fresh fruits and vegetables.  In rural America, if you have to drive more than 10 miles to buy an apple, you live in a food desert, according to the US Dept. of Agriculture. Limited access to produce, either through distance or reduced availability to public transportation, can have some serious impacts on community health.  That’s why it’s so important to have a resource  like Pathfinder Produce available.

Switching from “food deserts” to “desert foods,” my colleague Martha Spiegel changes gears to explore her food favorites from the American Southwest.

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Desert Foods

As I write this, I am excitedly anticipating my annual trip to Tucson, Arizona. I love the desert. Some people think of it as nothing but sand and cactus, but there is so much more! I particularly love the food I get to eat when I’m there. Of course I will avail myself of the abundance of amazing Mexican food; I am especially hoping for some homemade tamales. There’s also a favorite treat of mine: fry bread, which they sell in open air stands on the Tohono O’odham Nation reservation. I’ve tried making it myself, but it’s never the same.

When my parents first moved to Tucson, they missed New Jersey tomatoes. Tomatoes don’t grow well in the desert climate, so they are either shipped in from elsewhere or grown in hothouses, so they tend to have thick skins, are often picked before fully ripened, and aren’t as tasty. However, mom and dad love being able to grow citrus right in their back yard. Dad goes out into the back yard and picks a fresh grapefruit for his breakfast, and neighbors have shared their lemon harvest—the biggest lemons I have ever seen.

Looking into what else grows in that region, and I learned that in 2015, Arizona ranked second in the nation for quantity of cantaloupe, second for lettuce, second for spinach, and eighth for cabbage. They also produce dates and pecans, which are a major export.

Many plants which are native to the desert are edible, or produce edible fruit. For example, the mesquite and palo verde trees have edible seed pods, and saguaros and prickly pear have oval fruits, and the pads of the prickly pear can be eaten too. Just watch out for the thorns when harvesting and prepping them!

So off I go, to soak up the sunshine, take in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, and eat of its bounty. I can’t wait!

Martha (and Lori)

September Sports

My goodness, the year is flying by!  I hope everyone has a healthy and fun autumn, now that we’re officially in Pumpkin Spice Season.  As always, our friendly and helpful staff at Pathfinder Produce will be at the Village Commons on Thursdays throughout this colorful time of year, to help you access the freshest, tastiest fruits and veggies.  We hope to see you this week!

And don’t forget, you can do your shopping online with our convenient online ordering on our website.  How easy is that … order and pay for your fresh items for the week, and then pick up your order at either the Morris or Edmeston locations on Thursday afternoons.  Our market staff is ready and waiting to fill your orders!

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The past few weeks have been filled with sports activities for many of us:  My son is on his high school soccer and cross country teams, which means lots of practices, games, and meets.  And at Pathfinder Village, things have been busy with our recent events, the Chobani Tennis and Juniors Tennis Classic, and our second annual EDD Memorial Fund Bike Clinic.  I served in a supporting role for all these events and had a great time taking pictures of people of all ages and walks of life enjoying sports and fitness.

Soccer seasons are now in full swing, and Grant’s Field is busy most nights and weekends with practices and games for youth athletes in the Tri-Towns Youth Commission League.  And this coming week, I’ll be taking more pictures of our area cross country runners as they take to the Pathfinder Village Community Trail for two scholastic meets, on September 18 and 25, starting at about 4:30 p.m.  We’re looking forward to seeing all our area XC runners compete!

I had a great time this past Sunday taking pictures of the bike clinic that the EDD Memorial Fund and Pathfinder Village co-sponsored, which was focused on encouraging people with disabilities to enjoy riding for exercise and as a social experience.  We had a great turnout with 25 participants, and I got to see some good friends and former Pathfinder School and Otsego Academy students.  The EDD Memorial Fund, a longtime partner of Pathfinder’s, is a regional non-profit organization that provides a wide array of recreational and competitive sports programs for individuals with disabilities.

The event was organized by Pathfinder’s Enrichment Department and EDD staff and board members.  Additionally, we had several staff and student volunteers from the Recreation & Sports Management program at SUNY Delhi.  Organizers laid out two courses for the athletes: a straight course for our Strider balance bikes -- sleek, two-wheeled bikes that are propelled by walking the bike; and a more-demanding figure-8 for those riding our sturdy adult trikes.

After a short break, some bikers felt confident enough in their abilities to take on the paved bike path in back of Pathfinder School.  Several individuals – Shawn, Marc, and Katie – felt so confident that they cycled around the quarter-mile track several times at a good clip.

"It was wonderful to spend the morning with so many friends from Pathfinder Village. After saying hello and catching up, we got right down to the business of riding,” said Gretchen Owens, EDD’s executive director.  “I was impressed with everyone’s willingness to hop onto a bike.  Every rider seemed to gain a sense of independence that happens when riding bikes; enjoying that feeling of the wind in their face and the sun on their back as they cruised around the paths.  We hope to inspire riders to come back and do it again!"

According to numerous articles on the internet, adaptive cycling is a fun way to exercise that offers the benefits of improved mental health; better breathing and circulation; improved ranges of motion, balance and trunk control; and can help with visual perception and cognitive development. If one thinks back one’s own riding experiences, it’s easy to see how biking can open up opportunities and adventures for all.

Until next time, take advantage of these beautiful autumn days for fun and activity outdoors,

Lori

Meatless Main Dishes

Hello everyone, and we hope that your first full week of school is going well!  Here at Pathfinder Village, we’re welcoming back all our students at Pathfinder School and at Otsego Academy, our two-year post-secondary program, which offers tremendous opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities in independent living, academics, and through inclusive learning and social experiences in the community. Of course, our Pathfinder Produce market is also going strong, and we’re here to help all our area families get the fresh fruits and veggies they need for healthy meal and snack options.  Check it out at the Village Commons on Thursday afternoon, from 1 to 5 p.m.  And don’t forget our online ordering … place and pay for your order online, and we’ll select and pack your order for you.  Then, all you have to do is come by our location in Morris or Edmeston for your order of fresh and tasty items.  Sweet! ***  Too often vegetables are relegated to the role of side dish, or an afterthought to make the plate a bit more balanced. However, vegetables are very versatile and are packed with nutrients that make them the perfect candidate for an entrée. With a little creativity and an open mind, it’s easy to pack in more veggies to your day.  Here are some great veggie-rich recipes to try from Buzzfeed! 1. Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos Shake up Taco Tuesdays with these cauliflower and avocado packed tortillas! They are perfect for anyone who loves chicken wings, too! 2. Vegetarian Chili Chili is the ultimate comfort food for fall and winter. This recipe includes onions, peppers, carrots, celery, tomatoes, and beans—but it’s so filling you would never know it was missing any ground beef or turkey! 3. Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Switch up your traditional shepherd’s pie recipe with this sweet potato twist! Not a fan of lentils or mushrooms? Substitute any of your favorite veggies instead!  4. Zucchini Noodles Alfredo Only have a few minutes to make dinner, but trying to keep it on the healthier side? Anyone with a vegetable spiralizer can whip this pasta-alternative recipe up in 15 minutes or less! 5. Slow Cooker Veggie Pot Pie Crockpot recipes are perfect for busy days. Let your favorite vegetables simmer all day, then add puff pastry at the end for an easy and nutritious pot pie! To check out all of these recipes, and more, click here! Enjoy! Maura (and Lori)