Farmers' Market Demonstrations

We’re coming back to the market!

In partnership with the Urban Farmers’ Market project, Food Bank of Central New York is excited to continue hosting Just Say Yes to Fruits & Vegetables (JSY) workshops and recipe demonstrations at the Syracuse Downtown Farmers’ Market in Clinton Square. This initiative cultivates nourished communities through promoting the benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets to inspire healthy habits using fresh seasonal produce.

Every Tuesday from July 12 through September 20, our JSY Community Nutrition Educators will prepare delicious recipes using local farmer fresh produce from the market. Workshop sessions start hourly, 10:00 am through 12:00pm, and run about 40 minutes in length.

Workshop topics include: making the most of food budgets, preparing foods in a safe manner, meal planning tips, storing and preserving produce to reduce food waste, how to cut the salt and creative ideas for drinking healthier beverages. Each workshop provides practical nutrition information using USDA-approved lesson plans.

Each attendee will receive a recipe sample, colorful recipes and handouts, a useful kitchen item, and $4.00 in farmers' market Health Bucks coupons to be used to purchase locally-grown produce at the market.

For more information, please contact Debra Mimaroglu, Community Nutrition Manager, at (315) 437-1899 ext. 275.

Date	Workshop
July 12	Shopping at the Farmers' Market Shopping at the market is not the same as shopping at a grocery store. We will discuss the benefits of shopping at the market and share tips for how to have successful market, including how to use SNAP benefits to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, and other foods.
July 19	Fruits & Vegetables Colorful and FULL of flavor! Can you think of a time when you’ve enjoyed eating fruits and vegetables? Participants will be encouraged to share what fruits and veggies meet their needs based on taste, cost, nutrients, and cultural fit. We will also discuss ways in which we are successful at making fruits and vegetables part of our diets.
July 26	Reducing Food Waste; Storing Fruits & Vegetables Do you know how much food is wasted by the average American household each year? The answer may surprise you! We will discuss storage and freezing techniques to help ensure that commonly purchased fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer.
August 2	A Balanced Plate What does “balance” mean to you when it comes to feeding yourself and others? We will discuss ideas for creating meals that balance a variety of concerns such as nutrition, taste, cost, and time.
August 9	Food Safety The term “food safety” refers to many different practices in and out of the kitchen. We will go over specific steps you can take to ensure that the food you prepare is safe to eat.
August 16	Cut the Salt, Not the Flavor Sodium, found in salt, is essential for good health, but only in small amounts. Eating more than is recommended can have negative health consequences. We will discuss common sources of sodium in the typical American diet, reasons for limiting sodium intake, and share ideas for other spices and herbs can be used to create flavor.
August 23	Becoming a Mealtime Wiz There are many benefits of planning your meals and no one right way to do it. We will share helpful strategies to incorporate meal planning into our schedules and discuss how staple foods along with seasonal produce may be used to create easy and inexpensive meals.
August 30	Portion Sizes Portion Sizes have gotten larger in recent years, which means that it has gotten easier to eat more than we need. We will share tips for estimating portion sizes and how to pay attention to feelings of hunger and fullness.
September 6	Healthy Beverages Just as there is no one right way to eat, there is no one right way to stay hydrated. We will discuss strategies for developing a hydration plan to meet different age and lifestyle needs.
September 13	Physical Activity We know exercise is good for us, but do you know why? We will discuss the many ways that exercise makes us feel better and share ways to stay motivated to move more.
September 20	Beans What is it about beans? They are extremely healthy and yet, they don’t get the glory they deserve. We will discuss the benefits of beans, their versatility and how to incorporated them into meals.