NEW YORK, NY (July 26, 2013) — EmblemHealth and Harvest Home Farmer's Market are offering locally-grown fruits and vegetables, health and wellness information, and conducting complimentary body mass index (BMI) checks in Upper Manhattan this summer to help fight obesity.
"EmblemHealth knows how important good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are to combat the obesity epidemic," said David Flemister, Director of Community Marketing at EmblemHealth. "That's why we're once again supporting Harvest Home Farmer's Market and the access to locally-grown, seasonal produce to the neighborhoods of New York."
Live cooking demonstrations of healthy dishes will be prepared using foods found at the farmer's market. Residents will be able to take home bilingual recipe cards, printed in English and Spanish, with nutritional information and step-by-step instructions on preparing the dish.
"EmblemHealth's support is essential to fulfilling our mission of educating under-served New Yorkers on the health benefits of incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet and providing them with access to produce so they can live well," said Maritza Wellington Owens, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Harvest Home Farmer's Market.
Harvest Home farmer's markets are open from 8 am to 4 pm. EmblemHealth is supporting the following markets in Manhattan:
West Harlem Market — Tuesdays through November 19, 2013
137th Street & Broadway
Cooking demonstrations (through October 29)
EmblemHealth screening and health and wellness information: August 13 and 27, September 17, and October 1 and 15
East Harlem Market — Thursdays through November 14, 2013
104th Street & Third Avenue
Cooking demonstrations (through October 31)
EmblemHealth screening and health and wellness information: July 25, August 15 and 29, September 19, and October 3 and 17
Metropolitan Market — Fridays through November 15, 2013
99th Street & Third Avenue
Cooking demonstrations (through October 25)
EmblemHealth screening and health and wellness information: July 26, August 16, September 6 and 20, and October 4 and 18
For more information about EmblemHealth, please visit www.emblemhealth.com. For more information on Harvest Home Farmer's Market, please visit www.harvesthomefm.org.
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| Joseph Pastures, of Harlem, stays active by playing basketball with EmblemHealth representative Damon Smith at the Harvest Home East Harlem farmer’s market. | Harlem resident Diana Rosario shops for fresh and seasonal produce at the Harvest Home East Harlem farmer’s market. |
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| David Flemister, Director, Community Marketing, EmblemHealth; Maritza Wellington Owens, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Harvest Home Farmer’s Market; and Chef Jehangir Mehta, Owner of Graffiti restaurant and runner-up on Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef” at the Harvest Home East Harlem farmer’s market. | The EmblemHealth Experience, an interactive mobile vehicle, energizes people to pursue their goals towards a healthy lifestyle right in their own neighborhood. EmblemHealth representatives provide Harvest Home farmer’s market attendees the opportunity to customize an individual pledge to live healthier. |
About EmblemHealth
EmblemHealth, Inc. provides quality health care coverage and administrative services to approximately 3.4 million people. Groups and individuals can choose from a variety of PPO, EPO and HMO plans, as well as coverage for prescription drugs and dental and vision care. EmblemHealth offers a choice of networks, including quality doctors and other health care professionals throughout the region, leading acute care hospitals across the tristate area, and physicians and hospitals across all 50 states. For more information, visit www.emblemhealth.com.
About Harvest Home Farmer's Market
The markets are operated by Harvest Home Farmer's Market, Inc. (HHFM) an East Harlem based non-profit whose mission is to increase access to farm fresh, locally grown produce for consumers in high need, low-income New York communities identified as "fresh and healthy food deserts." Founded in 1993, HHFM operates a network of farmers markets in East Harlem, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens communities under-served by grocery stores and other fresh food outlets. The farmers markets provide direct producer-to-consumer economic opportunities for farmers and food producers who sell their goods at HHFM markets. For more information, visit www.harvesthomefm.org.