New Grand Rapids farmers market aims to bring healthy food options to Heartside

A new farmers market sponsored by Saint Mary's Health Care, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Advantage Health Physician Network hopes to make farm-fresh foods and other goods available to Heartside residents and employees who work in the area.

The Wealthy Street Farmers Market will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, May 19 through Oct. 13, in an unused parking lot off Cass St. SE, near the corner of Wealthy St. and Jefferson Avenue. Mary Free Bed owns the property.

"Saint Mary's Health Care is invested in improving the health of our own employees as well as the community," says Sheryl Lozicki. Lozicki is Saint Mary's manager of wellness and the coordinator of the market. "Saint Mary's began a wellness program where we're buying more food for the cafeteria from local farms and are involved in community events like the 5/3 Riverbank Run. The farmers market is one more way to improve the health of employees and the community."

The market will feature 12 to 18 vendors, including Dogwood Farm, Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters, Nantucket Baking Company, Funny Farm Organic Produce and Martin's Sugarbush & Produce.

Seasonal offerings will include the spring launch with annual plants, perennials, coffees and baked goods and will end with pumpkins, apples and fall perennials.

The market will have a different health-related twist each week that will include free recipes with a list of the ingredients available at the market and blood pressure screenings. Nutritionists will be available at different times to teach shoppers about antioxidants and the health advantages of various herbs.

"How can we help people eat more fresh foods?" Lozicki asks. "We need to get it on the table, and that means it needs to be more accessible at an affordable cost."

Source: Sheryl Lozicki, Saint Mary's Health Care and Wealthy Street Farmers Market
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor