Keyword/Tag: farmer's market

What a Weekend!

Posted on April 12, 2018 by -

Brighter Bites is largely known for its produce distribution, nutrition education, and fun food experience during school hours, but we also love to create communities of health on the weekend! This past weekend, Brighter Bites participated in three different events in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, TX.

Houston: Brighter Bites had a great time running a booth at the Pasadena Open Market, a family-friendly event with local vendors, community partners, music, a face painter, clowns, and recreational activities put on by the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department. We had so much fun handing out recipes, tip sheets, and bananas to market attendees while spreading the Brighter Bites love!

(Pictured below: Molly Martin, Program Manager, Brighter Bites Houston)

Austin: Our Austin, TX team had participated in the 6th Annual Edible Austin Children’s Picnic. This kidcentric event featured live music, storytelling, an imagination station, and yummy bites from local food vendors. We enjoyed playing a few signature Brighter Bites games, teaching kids and parents alike all about eating the rainbow. It was such a fun day!

(Pictured below: Shelby Koebley, Program Coordinator, Brighter Bites Austin)

San Antonio: Brighter Bites was honored over the weekend at the Viva Fresh Expo, a regional trade show hosted by the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) that brings together produce growers, suppliers, and distributors from the United States and Mexico.

TIPA selected Brighter Bites as the beneficiary of the 2018 Viva Fresh Open, a golf tournament sponsored this year by Bebo Distributing Inc. and Wonderful Citrus, that donates the tournament’s proceeds to a different charity each year. We were thrilled to be honored by TIPA this spring — it means so much to Brighter Bites that the produce industry is recognizing the impact we are making with their fruits and vegetables on families across the country.

(Pictured below from left to right: Maggie Whittington, Program Director, Brighter Bites Austin; Stefanie Cousins, Director of Marketing & Communications, Brighter Bites; Lisa Helfman, Founder, Brighter Bites; Samuel Newman, Executive Director, Brighter Bites)

 

Sneak Peak: Brighter Bites & Sustainable Food Center Begin Partnership at Cunningham Elementary

Posted on September 2, 2016 by -

farmers market 7

In mid-October, approximately three-quarters of the way through the eight weeks of Brighter Bites fall programming, representatives from theSustainable Food Center (SFC) will join Brighter Bites at Cunningham Elementary distributions to begin promoting an SFC-run farm stand that will sell reasonably-priced produce after school. Brighter Bites and SFC are optimistic that layering Brighter Bites distributions of free fresh produce and nutrition education materials with SFC’s promotion of the farm stand will result in increased demand for fresh produce in the community and a visible uptick in farm stand sales over last year.

The Benefits of Eating Seasonal Produce

Posted on August 12, 2015 by -

Seasonal Produce in Texas
Image courtesy of gotexan.org

Each fruit and vegetable has an optimal time of the year during which it grows the heartiest, tastiest, and most nutritious (ex. corn is grown in the summer, carrots are grown in the winter). For that reason we correlate certain crops to certain seasons. Eating with the seasons is not as commonplace as it was before food merchants started transporting fresh food across state lines, country borders, and oceans. However, if you choose to eat seasonally – eating food produced locally during the ideal growing season for that fruit or vegetable – you can reap multiple benefits. Here are just a few:   1. Seasonal produce tastes better and contains more nutrients. By growing fruits and vegetables during their optimal seasons, produce arrives to local grocery stores with maximum flavor, juicy textures, and the highest nutrient levels. If you see tomatoes at the grocery store during the winter, they might have been preserved with waxes or chemicals to make them seem bright red and plump. Even worse, they have most likely lost many nutrients if they were shipped from another country. However, if you buy tomatoes in the summer, they will taste sweet, contain maximum nutrients levels, and be preservative free.   2. Seasonal produce encourages sustainable practices. When fruits and vegetables are grown during their preferred season, they require fewer chemicals to keep them healthy (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides) and less water to keep them hydrated. Energy savings occur too, since farmers use less of it to plant, harvest, and transport them for local sales.   3. Seasonal produce saves you money and supports the local economy. When farmers use fewer inputs to grow produce in season, you don’t have to pay as much. Even better, by purchasing local, seasonal produce, you can support farmers in/near your community and boost the local economy.   If you live in Texas, check out this Texas produce availability chart. If you live out of the state, we recommend you search for a similar chart specific to where you live.

Using SNAP at Farmer’s Markets

Posted on August 5, 2015 by -

Did you know that some farmer’s markets accept SNAP? Now you can spice up your routine by taking the kids on a farmer’s market adventure! It’s a great way for the kiddos to learn directly from the farmers about the fruits and vegetables they love. A scavenger hunt [like the one found here] is sure to spark your kids’ enthusiasm for a normally boring errand. When you involve your kids in the selection process they are more invested in the final outcome: dinner! The produce found at farmer’s markets are usually fresher because local farmers sell what is in season. Ever notice why tomatoes in summer are so much more flavorful than ones bought in December? It’s all about the season. You can use SNAP benefits on other items such as bread, honey, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, and seeds/plants that produce food too. Below is a list of SNAP friendly farmer’s markets in Houston, Dallas, and Austin HOUSTON:

  1. East End Market, 2600 Navigation Blvd
  2. Get Moving Houston Farmers Market (Magnolia), 7037 Capitol St
  3. Get Moving Houston Farmers Markets (Lyons HC), 5602 Lyons Ave
  4. Get Moving Houston Farmers Markets (Sunnyside), 4605 Wilmington St
  5. Palm Center Farmers Market, 5400 Beekman Rd

DALLAS:

  1. Dallas Farmers Market/Grow North Texas, 1010 S Pearl Expy
  2. Vickery Meadow Local Market, 5803 E Northwest Hwy
  3. White Rock Local Market At Lakeside, 9150 Garland Rd
  4. White Rock Local Market, Inc., 702 N Buckner Blvd

AUSTIN:

  1. Barton Creek Farmer Market , 2901 S Capital of TX Hwy
  2. F2m At Mueller Farmers Market, 4550 Mueller Blvd
  3. Hope Farmers Market, 412 Comal St
  4. Johnson’s Backyard Garden, 9515 Hergotz Lane
  5. SFC Farmers Market 6, 201 W Saint Elmo Rd
  6. SFC Farmers Market 7, 2200 Berkeley Ave
  7. SFC Farmers’ Market 5, 7500 S Pleasant Valley Rd
  8. SFC Farmers’ Market At Sunset Valley, 3200 Jones Rd
  9. Springdale Farm, 755 Springdale Rd
  10. Sustainable Food Center Farmers’ Market East, 2835 E MLK Jr Blvd

 

Celebrating National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month in June

Posted on June 2, 2015 by -

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables month occurs every June and gives Brighter Bites many opportunities to reinforce different ways to add more fruits and veggies to your meals and snacks. Finely diced fresh fruits and vegetables make a great addition to salsas. Yellow summer squash, watermelon, and peaches add an interesting twist to a standard salsa that goes great with whole grain chips, chicken, or fish.  Raw sliced veggies like zucchini, cucumbers, and bell peppers taste delicious in hummus and bean dips. Try adding fresh fruit like strawberries, cantaloupe, and nectarines to smoothies, salads, and yogurt. These simple tips ensure you get the most out of the fresh food you purchase: •  Buy in-season produce to save money and get the best quality. Stop by your local farmer’s market to see what they grow locally. •  Buy small quantities so unused produce won’t spoil. •  Buy whole fruits and vegetables and prepare them yourself. •  Store cut or cooked fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator. •  Rinse all produce before preparing •  Grow your own!  A garden provides an easy way to enjoy fresh produce all summer long. Check out our Fruit Tips and Very Veggie handouts for more great ideas!