WANT EVEN MORE HEALTHY IDEAS FROM SHAPE YOUR FUTURE?
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 29, 2015) – During “Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month” this June, Shape Your Future, a statewide health initiative funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), is encouraging Oklahomans to visit local farmers markets to support local produce and enjoy the taste and benefits of Oklahoma grown fruits and vegetables.
The time is ripe to enjoy the season’s freshest produce. From juicy peaches to tomatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful throughout the summer.
“Shopping at a local farmers market allows you to provide your family with wholesome, healthy food while supporting your local community at the same time,” said Tracey Strader, TSET executive director. “With more than 50 farmers markets across Oklahoma, kids have lots of options to talk with real farmers, learn about how their food is grown, and taste the healthy, rich flavors of locally grown fruits and veggies.”
Below are the top five reasons to shop at a farmers market:
You can purchase produce when it is at its peak in flavor.
Farmers harvest produce when it is in season and at its freshest, making for the most delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Try a fresh tomato or strawberry!
When you shop at a farmers market, you are supporting your local farmers, your community and your economy.
Your money will stay in your community. You will also help new and smaller farmers be successful and save farmland in your area.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are nutrient-rich.
Most farmers market produce is minimally processed. Local farmers grow the most nutritious produce possible by using sustainable techniques and picking produce when it is at its freshest.
It’s a great way to get your kids involved.
Let your kids be “picky” eaters. Bring them with you to the farmers market, and let them choose something new to try. They can help prepare a meal or snack by finding healthy recipes. Your kids can also interact with farmers to understand how fruits and vegetables are grown and harvested.
Farmers markets are easy to find.
There are more than 50 farmers markets in Oklahoma. Click here to find a farmers market near you!
For more information on National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, visit ShapeYourFutureOK.com. For more nutrition tips and recipes, visit us online or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter (@ShapeFutureOK).
For more information contact:
Elyse Maxwell
elysem@tset.ok.gov
(405) 568-8568
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Shape Your Future encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free to improve community health. By leading healthy lifestyles, Oklahomans can decrease the number of citizens who fall victim to death and disease while increasing community health, physical activity and quality of life. For more information, go to ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more go to: www.tset.ok.gov.