NEEDHAM, MA — Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham (BID-Needham), the Charles River Center and Needham Bank have published and begun delivering free cookbooks in collaboration with the Needham Community Farm’s Mobile Market. The new “Guide to Fresh Produce” cookbook was written by dieticians at BID–Needham and features recipes that use seasonal selections of top-quality, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that are available at the Mobile Market, all free of cost.
A collaboration between Needham Community Farm and the Charles River Center’s Horticulture Program, the once-a-week market brings fresh, local produce to low-income, food-insecure neighborhoods in Needham and educates adults with developmental disabilities and autism about growing organic produce.
“BID–Needham is dedicated to providing resources to the community like this cookbook to encourage living healthier lives,” said Alyssa Kence, Community Relations Coordinator at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham. “We set out to create a comprehensive guide on how to store and prepare market products in simple, nutritious and cost-effective way. This cookbook was a combined community effort, bringing together local organizations to support the production of the book, which includes recipe submissions from local chefs and artwork from students at Needham’s Broadmeadow School.”
“The mission of The Needham Community Farm’s Mobile Market is to address the food inequity that exists right here in Needham by bringing fresh high-quality produce to those who need it most,” said Susan Shaver, President of Needham Community Farm. “Together with partners like BID–Needham, we can take active steps to reach out to our neighbors in need. The ‘Guide to Fresh Produce’ cookbook is a wonderful resource for recipients of the Mobile Market’s local fruits and vegetables. The book complements our mission and our core organizational values centered on community and collaboration.”
“Community integration is one of the major goals of the Horticulture Program,” said Mike Bolio, Horticulture Coordinator at the Charles River Center. “Working side by side with the Needham Community Farm for the past three years has been an amazing experience for everyone involved. For our program participants, learning how to grow food—and now being able to see how people benefit from their hard work with the completion of the Mobile Market—is something special to be a part of. This colorful new cookbook, a wonderful collaboration between local organizations, will give farm stand visitors new and creative ideas for preparing fresh produce.”
“We believe good health and local organic options go hand in hand,” said Erica McLaughlin, Community Relations Manager at Needham Bank, which supported the development of the cookbooks. “We are so pleased to have been able to support this wonderful initiative alongside our community partners.”
About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital−Needham
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital−Needham (BID−Needham) is a licensed 58-bed acute care community hospital affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston. The direct affiliation with BIDMC, since 2000, has facilitated the clinical integration of staff and resources in emergency medicine, hospital medicine (hospitalists), cardiology, radiology, orthopaedics, general surgery, pathology, and oncology. BIDMC and BID−Needham opened the Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center and Surgical Pavilion at BID–Needham, providing more accessible, patient-centered cancer care and advanced surgical services to the community.
BID−Needham has served residents in Needham, Newton, Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Sherborn, Wellesley, Westwood and other surrounding communities for more than 100 years. The hospital has been recognized by several organizations for quality and safety, including the American Heart and American Stroke Associations for lifesaving stroke care, an “A” grade Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group and a first-place Accountable Care Compass Award from the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA). For more information, please visit www.bidneedham.org. Find BID−Needham on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIDNeedham and follow us on Twitter @bidneedham.
About the Needham Community Farm’s Mobile Market
The mission of the Mobile Market is to increase access to fresh, safe, high-quality and healthy food for low-income individuals and families regardless of race, ethnicity, place of residence, class, health or socioeconomic status. The Market achieves this by meeting our neighbors where they are, in their own communities, and offering fresh, top-quality, locally grown food; distributing a selection of produce at no cost to Needham Housing Authority residents; and providing educational resources, including this cookbook, for how to store and prepare market products in simple, nutritious and cost-effective ways. All of the Mobile Market’s produce is locally, organically and sustainably grown at the Needham Community Farm’s Pine Street and Newman Site locations. The Mobile Market is open seasonally, June through October, on Tuesday evenings at scheduled locations.
About the Charles River Center’s Horticulture Program
The Horticulture Program at the Charles River Center in Needham, Massachusetts is an innovative program that educates adults with developmental disabilities and autism to grow and tend organic produce and flowers. Established in 2015, individuals who participate enjoy the entire growing process, from soil preparation, to seed sowing and plant care, to harvesting.
Produce and flowers are started in a greenhouse at the Charles River Center, and are transplanted to five-gallon buckets, milk crates and raised beds on-site, as well as raised beds at the Needham Community Farm. Individuals then participate in the general care and harvest throughout the entire growing season. All food grown by the Horticulture Program is donated to local food pantries. Beyond growing vegetables and flowers, individuals also volunteer at many local farms and Mass Audubon sites where they participate in many activities that include weekly care of chickens, goats and rabbits, seasonal collection of maple syrup and plantings at the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
With participation in the Horticulture Program, individuals with developmental disabilities such as Autism, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy have developed and strengthened transferable skills for future employment, and gain numerous physical and therapeutic benefits.
About Needham Bank
Needham Bank, headquartered at 1063 Great Plain Ave. in Needham, MA, is the quintessential community bank, serving Boston and its neighboring communities continuously since 1892. Needham Bank represents the evolution of community banking™, offering the latest financial products and technologies, while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the communities served. Needham Bank is a member of FDIC and SIF.