Farmers Markets "spring up" at Kaiser Permanente San Mateo facilities

Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Staff, Members Thrive on Produce

                The aroma of strawberries and hummus filled the air in the courtyard of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center  Wednesday: it was the start of the hospital’s Farmers Market, and on this first day, strawberries, cherries and nectarines were featured by the growers who came in to display their wares.

                Also in the courtyard: Heavenly Hummas,  offering free tastes and  cartons  for sale of pureed  chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon and spices.  The tasting area was busy on this opening market day.

                “This  market  is a great opportunity for our staff and members to buy healthy, nutritious produce,” said Dr. Jim O’Donnell, Physician-in-Chief of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical  Center.  “And part of ‘Thrive-ing’ is eating five to nine servings  of  fresh fruit and veggies each day.”

                On May 6th, a similar market will open at Kaiser Permanente’s South San Francisco hospital. The markets in Northern California are run by the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association, in cooperation with Kaiser Permanente.

                Almost all of Kaiser Permanente’s hospitals and medical offices nationwide have some sort of weekly Farmer’s Market.  Dr. Preston Maring started the Farmer’s Market concept at the Oakland Medical Center 11 years ago,  asserting that in health care, the kitchen was as important as the clinic, and that food is at the center of health, as well as illness.

                The Kaiser Permanente Redwood City  Farmer’s Market runs through autumn each Wednesday  from 10am to 1pm.