The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is launching a new push to get local-farm fare into hospitals. Here’s an ASAP press release on the program that went out today:

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
729 Haywood Rd., #3, Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 236-1282
http://www.asapconnections.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Emily Jackson at (828) 236-1282 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Rose McLarney at (828) 236-1282 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Farm to Hospital Pilot Launched in WNC
ASHEVILLE, NC (February 19, 2009) –  Hospitals have the potential not only to treat the sick and injured, but to serve as community role models for healthy choices.  To help hospitals realize this potential, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is launching a Farm to Hospital pilot program. The program will enable hospitals to feature fresh local foods and offer food and farm related educational programming. Farm to Hospital aims to both improve public health and sustain local farms.
ASAP will offer services to hospital food service, administration, staff, patients, and the broader community. The program will include distributing Local Food Guides to hospitals and support in sourcing local products for cafeterias. ASAP will also consult on educational programs such as cooking classes and field trips, wellness programs, and marketing and promotions.
“People look to hospitals for guidance in regards to health, so I’m excited to assist hospitals in setting a healthy example for food choices too,” Program Director Emily Jackson says. “Western North Carolina has such outstanding agricultural resources. It makes sense that hospitals would capitalize on them and encourage people to eat the freshest, local food.”
Farm to Hospital builds on the achievements of ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School program, which has successfully worked with many schools to help them serve local foods in their cafeterias and offer positive experiences associated with healthy eating.
Farm to Hospital services are offered to hospitals across Western North Carolina, as time and resources allow.  Hospitals interested should contact Program Coordinator Molly Nicholie at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (828)236-1282.
Support for this project comes in part from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT
ASAP is helping to rebuild the local economy, preserve rural land and heritage, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, and increase access to fresher, healthier foods. We work to keep farmers farming and to reconnect people with their food. We involve businesses, shoppers, chefs, children, seniors, healthcare providers, teachers, and all community members in the local food movement.
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Rose McLarney
Marketing and Communications
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.asapconnections.org
729 Haywood Rd., #3
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 236-1282

Here’s an update on Farm to Hospital:

Ten hospitals in the region are now participating in ASAP’s Farm to Hospital pilot program. Mission Hospital in Asheville, the first to join the program, is already serving local food, offering educational activities, and more.
Mission Hospital’s cafeteria buys hydroponic lettuce from Madison Farms, and would like to to buy an increased variety of local produce in the summer.

Madison Farms holds the Mission Hospital Farmers Market every Thursday on the Mission campus, from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. The market is open to the public.

Another benefit of Farm to Hospital for staff is that farm shares, weekly boxes of seasonal produce from local farms, are offered for sale at the hospital. Next year, ASAP hopes to assist in coordinating a CSA fair that will introduce staff to the broad range of CSA options available in the area.
ASAP is also working with Mission’s Health Education Center to offer incentives to visit Asheville City Market, include local farm and food resources in patient materials, and to coordinate a series of cooking classes.

Other hospitals participating in Farm to Hospital at varying levels are Pardee Hospital, Park Ridge Hospital, Transylvania Medical Center, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, Blue Ridge HealthCare, Murphy Medical Center, Angel Medical Center, Harris Regional Hospital, and Swain County Hospital.