Getting Ready

Hello everyone!  Spring has finally arrived in Central New York – hooray!  That means everyone soon will be very busy with outdoor activities and pressed for time.  We invite you to discover the convenience of Pathfinder Produce to obtain your week’s worth of fresh fruits and veggies … we’re local, committed to customer service, and offer competitive prices. 

We’re Pathfinder Produce … Rooted in Community!

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Recently, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with my friends and colleagues of Pathfinder’s Adult Day Services in prepping the hoop houses for another growing season.  The numerous beds in three metal-and-plastic greenhouses needed weeding and have the soil turned over before planting.  It’s a job not many enjoy, but honestly, I really do like to play in the dirt.

The garden bed earth is rich and has a pleasing deep brown-black color.  There are plenty of earthworms present, doing what they do best.  Chiefly, they consume organic matter and break it down through digestion, adding nutrients to the soil; they also break up the soil as they tunnel to mix in oxygen and make it easier for water to seep into deeper layers. 

As they say, “Many hands make light work,” and in no time, we’d accomplished the prep work.  From here, our ADS gardeners and Pathfinder School students will plant a variety of fresh greens, tomatoes, herbs, onions, garlic, summer squash, and other favorites.  I can’t wait to see how their crops progress through the early growing season.  (Perhaps we can set up some mulching experiments to see what works best … I’ll have to suggest that to the team!).

Other folks at Pathfinder are also getting prepared -- not for gardening, but for taking part in our annual Splash Path 5k and Fun Walk, which takes place on Saturday, May 18.  The Village’s Nursing and Enrichment Departments have started a Mileage Club, which encourages everyone to walk through our beautiful campus.  Last week was our first week of walking; despite the wind and cooler temperatures, everyone had an enjoyable time and logged in an impressive 187.25 miles in four days.

Splash Path, our signature paint run & walk event is now in its sixth year and is an inclusive and family fitness activity that is open to athletes of all ages and abilities.  This year’s event proceeds will support the continuing development of our Pathfinder Produce Mobile Market … we’re very excited about expanding our deliveries to area communities and helping more families access fresh fruits and vegetables to improve their health.

To take advantage of our early registration discounts before May 10, just go to splashpath.racewire.com to sign up; the registration fees are kept affordable through the generosity of Pathfinder’s community business partners and other sponsors.  Our thanks go out to key sponsors Brown & Brown of New York; NYCM Insurance; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Chobani; the Government of Otsego County; New York Pizzeria of New Berlin; the Wladis Law Firm; Coutleé Law; Bank of Cooperstown; NBT Bank; Preferred Mutual, Prolifiq Sign Studio and Gates-Cole Insurance.

Splash Path will also include family fun activities as always, including our ZUMBA warm-up party with Zoe Curtis, prize drawings, a barbecue, music by DJ Chris Curtis, vendor exhibits, cornhole matches and lots of kids’ activities. The 5k begins at 10 a.m. with our traditional color burst at the Pathfinder School parking lot.

Until next time, eat well, be well, and get ready for great weather.

Lori

The Colors of Spring!

Spring greetings to all!  Today’s weather has been particularly fickle, going from blue skies to thunderstorms and back to blue skies within the space of a few hours! It makes it hard to plan sometimes.

But one thing you can always plan on is Pathfinder Produce with our great prices, the friendliest staff, and freshest fruits and veggies. We’re open every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons.  Don’t forget our online ordering option offers added convenience.  Pathfinder Produce …  we’re Rooted in Community!

Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel follows up on a timely tip for spring!

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A reader recently wrote to us about natural Easter egg dyes, which piqued our curiosity, so I did some investigating. I was amazed at how many colors you can come up with! It’s a bit of a process, but the results can be really stunning.

First, you’ll need to hard boil and chill some eggs, and gather some mason jars. Then follow one of the two methods of preparing the dye— boil, and no-boil—depending on the base.

To use the Boil Method:

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil.
2. Add your coloring agent (see below)
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or longer for deeper color.
4. Strain liquid into a large mason jar and cool to room temperature.
5. Stir in 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.
6. Add 3 hardboiled eggs.
7. Close the jar and refrigerate overnight.

Examples of coloring agents requiring the boil method include:

• Shredded red beets for purple eggs
• Turmeric or cumin for yellow
• Chili powder for orange
• Red cabbage for sky blue (surprising!)
• Spinach for green

I read some conflicting information about certain color results, such as red onion skins. Some sources say the result is lavender or red, while others said jade green! I suspect there is some element of surprise with the results, but that just adds to the fun of it.

The No-Boil Method:

The no-boil method starts with a liquid, such as grape juice or coffee, which is strained into the mason jar. The procedure is the same from there on.

This article from TheKitchn.com suggests drying the eggs after coloring and putting them back in the jar for another night to achieve a deeper color. You can repeat the process until you achieve the desired hue.

Here is a list of websites with different suggestions for ingredients to use for natural egg dyes:

• All Recipes
• Better Homes and Gardens
• Martha Stewart
• Wellness Mama

A word about safety: Of course, one should use caution when pouring hot liquids into glass jars, and young children should be supervised during these activities.  Also, you won’t want to waste the beautiful eggs, so be careful to refrigerate them. Eggs are unsafe to eat if they are left out for more than two hours.

Enjoy the colors of spring!

Martha (and Lori)

The Veggie Prescription

 

Hello, everyone, and welcome to April!  We’ll have a month full of delicious Thursdays for you at Pathfinder Produce!  Stop by the Village Commons from noon to 5 p.m. for the freshest tastes around, and don’t forget our online ordering option!  We’re local, we’re affordable and we’re Rooted in Community!

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The Veggie Prescription

The adage goes “You are what you eat.”  I believe that is true in many cases, and many people suffer from conditions that may be rooted in or affected by poor eating habits.  Locally, for several years, our partners at Bassett Healthcare Network have been promoting their 5210 programs to encourage folks to:

• Eat 5 servings of fresh fruits and veggies each day
• Reduce recreational screen time to
  2 hours
• Take 1 hour of physical activity daily
• And to reduce their intake of sugary drinks to 0.

Healthcare providers are now starting to examine alternatives to prescribing drugs as the first option of care.  A recent article from Fast Company examines a Tufts University study that makes the case that subsidized produce purchases–prescribing fresh fruits and veggies -- can prevent millions of cases of chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, and reduce healthcare costs.

The Tufts study, published in PLOS Medicine, looked at Medicare or Medicaid recipients, and examined two different food voucher scenarios:

• one covered 30% of the recipients’ produce expenses
• the other covered produce plus other healthy foods, like whole grains

The study predicted through a simulation model that the patients receiving subsidies would rely less on healthcare services.  Quantitatively, the study said that the first scenario would prevent 1.93 million cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks) and 350,000 deaths, as well as cut healthcare costs by $40 billion. The expanded second scenario would prevent 3.28 million cardiovascular events, 620,000 deaths, and 120,000 cases of diabetes–and save the U.S. system a whopping $100 billion.

Other news headlines back up the effectiveness of integrating fruits and veggies into treatment plans and prevention programs. Allison Aubrey from NPR filed a story about the Food Pharmacy, a pilot program at Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania.  Diabetics accessing more fresh produce, at about a cost of $1,000 each year per patient, were able to markedly improve their health over time, and spent far less in healthcare costs, roughly about $24,000 per individual.

Other articles and websites featuring the benefits of healthy food prescriptions include:

• University of Vermont:  Trading Aspirin for Asparagus
• Wholesome Wave Website (based in Bridgeport, CT, and Berkeley, CA)
• Healthline.com: Here’s How Healthy Food Prescriptions Could Save Lives & Money

Until next time, eat well and be well!

Lori

A New Twist on Smoothies

What a wonderful World Down Syndrome Day 2019 we enjoyed here at Pathfinder Village last week!  Thank you to all our Pathfinder Produce patrons who came by to help celebrate our market’s 6^th anniversary … it was a fun day at the market, with some out-of-town visitors, produce special sales, decorations and some fun blue-and-yellow mini-treats from the Pathfinder Bakery. 

Every market day is special at Pathfinder Produce …  we offer a great selection of fresh, tasty produce, and feature our online ordering service …Pathfinder Produce, we’re ROOTED IN COMMUNITY.

Last week we explored smoothies during our Otsego Academy Leadership Week with students from the Colgate COVE.  This week, my colleague, Sally Trosset, continues this theme with some refreshing smoothie spin-offs you may try.

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As ski fanatics say on a sunny day after a snow storm, “it’s a bluebird day!”  Not a cloud in the sky and the sun is shining bright!  I can almost smell and feel the warmth of spring, which means outdoor activities!  Spring is also the time to dust off my blender for yummy smoothies!  I noticed the local coffee shop has put away their soup bowls and crock pots and seasonal smoothies are back on their menu.

While the tried and true strawberry banana smoothie is always a refreshing, safe and healthy treat, I’ve decided to step up my smoothie game and venture in fruit-and-vegetable combinations.  I might even try an acai bowl, a treat my daughters recently discovered. 

What is an acai berry?  They are small fruit native to Central and South America and are considered a superfood because of their high antioxidant levels. They’ve definitely become a trendy ingredient!  You can find packets of acai berry puree in the freezer section of many grocery stores, either with the frozen fruit or the cans of frozen juice. Just break up your acai packet into pieces, toss it into the blender with the other ingredients and you’re ready to go! 

An acai bowl is a blended mixture of acai berries and other fruits. It is essentially a smoothie made with fruit, acai berry puree and yogurt that’s served in a bowl and finished with a fun and colorful variety of toppings.  It is a perfect healthier option for breakfast, lunch or snack time as long as you keep the toppings healthy!  Topping choices include honey, granola, coconut flakes, almonds or fresh fruit, but really, anything goes!

I plan on checking out the recipes from wellandgood.com.  Another place to find more traditional smoothie bowls is bluediamond.com.  If it’s your desire to stick to the classic smoothie, check out, lalymom - spring-smoothie-recipes, or greenblender.com.  I found many recipes describing light, tropical flavors with easy to find ingredients like carrots, raspberries, and spring mix lettuce. 

Happy blending, happy smoothies and happy spring!

Sally (and Lori)

Happy WDSD 2019!

Hello everyone, welcome to Pathfinder School Spirit Week and our lead-in to World Down Syndrome Day on March 21!  Each day this week, our school students will be celebrating a different theme – Green & White Day, Pajama Day, Wacky Wednesday, and Crazy Sock Day.  On Thursday, many of us at the Village will be donning our most-colorful socks to celebrate the contributions of and individuality of people who have Down syndrome.  We invite everyone to wear colorful socks and take a picture to share on Pathfinder’s Instagram page using the tag #pvcrazysocks! Plus on WDSD, we’ll be marking our 6th anniversary of Pathfinder Produce!  That day at our Edmeston market at the Village Commons from noon to 5 p.m., we’ll be featuring festive decorations and 5% off all produce items!  Plus, we’ll showcase some other items and some blue & yellow 21-cent baked goods!  You won’t want to miss this great day at the market! Thank you to all who have supported Pathfinder Produce, which not only brings fresh, nutritious foods to our local families, but also provides wonderful work and community engagement opportunities for members of our Pathfinder Adult Day Services.  We’re justifiably proud of how these individuals set-up and staff our market each week; we’re also eager for the delivery of our new Mobile Market vehicle, so that we may expand the market into other communities.  Pathfinder Produce … we’re rooted in community! You can learn more about all the goings on March 21 through our interview on WZOZ FM with Leslie Ann (10 min.) ***
Last week, the students of Otsego Academy hosted their annual Leadership Week with students from the Colgate University COVE Program (Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education).  It was a very busy week, focused on shared experiences, exploring how people of different abilities may be leaders, and trying new skills and adventures.  The entire week was organized around the theme of “making a kaleidoscope” with students adding component statements about leadership onto a poster that was organized into concentric circles. Some of the activities centered around teamwork and food: The students all enjoyed their lessons in pizza making with Rosario Baio of New York Pizzeria in New Berlin, who’s a great instructor.  Some of the students had never made their own pizzas before, so they felt a great sense of accomplishment as they learned how to roll out the dough, add sauce and toppings, and come up with a winning pie.  Otsego Academy’s resident pizza-maker, John M., was a great leader too, in showing novice pizza makers how to make a colorful and tasty pizza. At another colorful food activity, the students collaborated to use produce from the Pathfinder Produce market to make “kaleidoscope smoothies.”  Working as teams, the students prepared and combined all types of produce into tasty and nutritious drinks.  By far, the most popular ingredient was pineapple, but some of the students also enjoyed adding strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, carrots, and spinach to their drinks.  Thank goodness the dorm has a strong “workhorse” blender, which could handle even the toughest veggie fibers.
While visiting during the preparations, the Colgate students all agreed that they probably don’t eat enough fruits and veggies while at school, but they all indicated they try to eat a balanced, healthy diet.  “We have a smoothie bar at campus, which also helps, as you can always make your own smoothie,” said Jenna, a member of the women’s soccer team.  “They always have great berries, so it’s a treat to come here and make smoothies using fresh pineapple.” Otsego Academy student Kate teamed up with the two seniors, Jazmin and Monica, visiting Pathfinder during the Smoothie session.  The women combined four types of oxidant rich berries with spinach, banana and almond milk to make a very tasty, but not too heavy drink.  As they enjoyed their smoothies, Monica, who’s from L.A., laughed that it was hard not to drink hers quickly because it was so good.  Jazmin, who is from Miami and who participated in last year’s Leadership Week, agreed and noted that adding spinach to a smoothie was a new experience for Kate. “I want to be Popeye!” joked Kate as she enjoyed her drink and flexed her biceps.  “I don’t make smoothies often, but it’s a treat when I do.” Until next time, find opportunities to make foods with friends, and enjoy! Happy World Down Syndrome Day and ROCK THOSE SOCKS! Lori	A special shoutout goes to Usman, who helped everyone make their smoothies by using his muscle and a special pineapple corer to provide enough of the sweet, golden fruit for everyone.  He made it look easy … now I have to buy one of these handy gadgets for when I get fresh pineapple for my family.

Vote for Veggies!

Good afternoon!  We hope you can join us for our next delicious Pathfinder Produce market, Thursday, March 14 from noon to 5 p.m.  We’ve got the greatest tastes around, and you can’t beat our friendly, helpful assistants, all members of our Pathfinder Village Adult Day Services.

Also, for shoppers in the West Winfield area, Pathfinder Produce will be hosting a special “Showcase Market” at the Federated Church, 452 East Main Street, on Monday, March 18. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This market is open to the public and is a test run for expanding services through our new Mobile Market.  Of course, folks in Edmeston and Morris can take advantage of our online ordering system too … just cruise over to our website and put in your order for delivery at either pick-up location.

This week promises to be very busy -- spring sports are already starting!  Here at Pathfinder, we’re hosting our annual Otsego Academy Leadership Week with students from Colgate University’s Center for Outreach, Volunteerism and Education (COVE).  The week after that is our lead up to the market’s sixth anniversary celebration and World Down Syndrome Day on 3-21!

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Vote for Veggies!

As a college student, I had the opportunity to intern for a semester in Albany for a SUNY-run newspaper that focuses on state government, “The Legislative Gazette.”  We cub reporters were put through our paces learning about law-making processes, getting immersed in politics, and churning out a weekly edition (which everyone in government read).

It was a great experience and taught me many skills that I still use: Even to this day when I hear of a bill that interests me, I will research it to learn more.  This process is easier than ever with online access to the bills of both the Senate and Assembly.  One note, the Senate site has “an app interface” where one may indicate if they approve or disapprove of any given bill, with links for sharing on social media; the Assembly site is a bit clunkier to use and doesn’t allow you to vote yay, nay, or share.

Recently I read a Facebook post by State Senator Jen Metzger of Rosendale (D-42^nd District), the new Chair of the Agriculture Committee, of the passage of Senate bill S00252 that would make it easier for school districts to buy more locally grown produce as part of their lunch programs. 

“What a great idea to support our own local agriculture!” I thought.  I also wondered why we haven’t been doing this until now, but it was good to see that the bill had advanced from its first reading to the Local Governments Committee to the floor vote without any dissent. The Senate Bill was sponsored by Senator Timothy Kennedy of Buffalo (D-63rd), with co-sponsors Senator Rachel May of Syracuse (D-53^rd) and Sen. Patti Richie of Oswegatchie (R-48th).

Senator Metzger wrote, “I’m happy to report that today (March 6), the New York State Senate unanimously passed Senate bill S252, which makes it easier for public schools to purchase fresh, locally-grown produce by eliminating the cap on local purchasing and allowing public schools to specify a regional preference in their bid and procurement requests.”

“Fostering strong farm-to-school connections is good for the health of our children and for our local agricultural producers and distributors who will benefit directly from this expanded market,” she added. “My long-term goal is to see all of our New York schools serving fresh, locally-sourced vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, and the passage of S252 brings us closer to realizing this.”

So, now that it’s cleared the Senate, the bill has been sent to the Assembly and has been referred to its Local Government Committee.  I expect that the bill will also have strong support in the Assembly and that it soon will advance to the Governor for his signature.  While nothing’s certain in government, it’s good to see that our state legislators want to put more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables into our school students’ lunches … it’s a step in the right direction. And who knows, it may even encourage students to make better choices.

Until next time, vote for veggies!

Lori

WDSD & Winter Salads

Hello everyone!  We’re gearing up for another tasteful market at Pathfinder Produce at the Village Commons.  Stop on down from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays to get the freshest fruits and veggies around. 

Below, my colleague Sally Trosset shares some updates about World Down Syndrome Day and some delicious ideas for salads to round out your winter and early spring meals!

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March, the longest month of the year, is a transitional month. If we can get through March we’re in the home stretch to warmer and sunnier days, flowers blooming and green grass.  Daylight savings is just around the corner on March 10th and the first day of spring follows on March 20th. The light evening hours that daylight savings brings is always a welcome change. 

Campus activities at Pathfinder Village pick up in March as well. Near and dear to our hearts is World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st. WDSD has been observed since 2006 and it received official recognition by the United Nations in 2012.  “3-21” was selected as the celebration date as it represents the triplication of the 21st chromosome, the genetic cause of 95% of occurrences of Down syndrome.

WDSD is also Pathfinder’s unofficial welcome of spring.  Falling on a Thursday this year, our Pathfinder Produce Market will be in full sixth-anniversary celebration mode!  Balloons at the entranceway will give way to door prizes, raffles, and our signature assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.  As a special treat, the market will offer special baked goods from the Pathfinder Bakery and Cafe.  A WDSD discount will be given on your purchases at the checkout register as well!

In addition, Pathfinder invites you to wear crazy socks on WDSD to raise awareness of the abilities of children and adults with Down syndrome.  We invite you to join in the fun by posting a picture of you wearing your crazy socks on our Facebook and Instagram pages. On Facebook, “like” our page then send a picture to us through Messenger.  On Instagram, “follow” our page, pathfindervillageinc., and post your picture with the tag, #pvcrazysocks. Please post respectful pictures; it’s about spreading joy, creativity, and awareness! 

Our residents and students at Pathfinder and Pathfinder School will enjoy weeklong WDSD activities with School Spirit Week and other activities (March 18-22).  Our Otsego Academy students will get a jump start to WDSD with their 9th Annual Colgate University Leadership Week (March 11-15).  This is a popular, week-long immersion filled with team building and leadership activities and workshops for our Otsego Academy and visiting Colgate University students.

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Winter salads might get a bad rap when you compare them to their spring and summer counterparts, but they can be just as delicious and addictive.  When topped with the right items and delicious dressings, winter salads can be a nice and nutritious transition meal to spring and summer foods.  While spring is only a few weeks away, it can be weeks before the full effects of the season are felt in our area. Some of my favorite winter salad ingredients include spinach, arugula, beets, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts.  Served with spaghetti squash, quinoa or a hearty whole grain bread, these bright colorful salads are guaranteed to make you feel better at this time of year as we tire of comfort foods with subdued colors.

Don’t be fooled by these salads either.  Following are some colorful salad ideas that will please the eye and palette; these recipes are hearty, filling main meal salads that you can look forward to after a long day at work or school.

• Winter Salads
• Everyday Seasonal Salads
• Bright Colorful Winter Salad
• Winter Salad Collections
• 6 Hearty Salads - Food & Wine

A big fan of arugula, my personal favorite is the Mushroom-Fennel Salad found in the Winter Salad Collections link.  Mushrooms, goat cheese, walnuts, and arugula offer blends of textures, colors, and flavors. With a side of bread or sliced baked chicken added to the salad, it is definitely a satisfying meal.

Make sure to mark your calendars for 3-21 and come celebrate with us at the Pathfinder Produce Market.   Pick up your salad ingredients, grab a special “3-21” treat, and show off your crazy socks!  We look forward to seeing you all on this special day!

Sally (and Lori)