Louisiana medical center hosts farmers market

West Jefferson Medical Center's cafeteria was recently transformed into a farmers market and a celebration of Caribbean culture.

There was cheerful chatter in West Jefferson Medical Center's Café Jefferson as staff and visitors shopped for produce.

Clinical Nutrition Director Laura Gandolfo at West Jefferson Medical Center and staff held a farmers market in Cafe' Jefferson, the hospital cafeteria, to promote healthy eating.

Gandolfo said that the market has expanded to four times per year, once per season, rather than once each year. She said, "It is not a for-profit activity; produce are sold at cost."

She said that Sodexo Food and the West Jefferson Nutrition Team joined to present the market to the West Jeff family and visitors. The market was open to anyone visiting the cafeteria who wanted to purchase fresh produce.

At lunchtime, staff and visitors stood in a rapidly moving line to make purchases from a large display of fresh locally grown vegetables and fruits. The selections included corn on the cob, a variety of green and/or red peppers, cherry and/or grape tomatoes, squash, green onions, zucchini, cabbage, asparagus, eggplant, green beans, okra, herbs (basil, mint, rosemary) and much more. Fruits included pineapples, various berries, mangos, grapes, peaches plums, avocado and more.