GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Some local farmers and gardeners are doing what they can to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to people who live far from the farm. The Southeast Area Farmers' Market tries to provide fresh, healthy foods in the midst of the city.
Yvonne Dudley Woodard is a walking, talking advertisement for the southeast area farmers' market and for healthy living. She explains, "I changed my diet. The doctor told me I was going to be on hypertension medication the rest of my life. I'm not. But what I did was I changed the way I eat."
Woodard says African Americans sometimes have health problems related to their diet, and that those problems can go back generations because "Most people of African American descent; we actually eat a lot of fat. And it actually goes back to slavery when we ate what other people threw away. So, we ate the fat. We learned how to cook it and we learned how to cook it good. But, we're still eating it. We're not as active as we were back then. So, we have to make some changes."
Throughout her life, Woodard struggled with health issues from ulcers to alcoholism to a lung disease called sarcoidosis. Then, almost ten years ago, she changed her lifestyle. While Woodard used to eat a lot of fried foods and sugar, now she says she eats "fruits and vegetables and whole grains. And I lost like 40 pounds."
Woodard is trying to encourage others, as Manager of the Southeast Area Farmers' Market.
The weekly market brings in produce, mostly from community farmers like Robert Tolbert. Tolbert says, "I just started growing it and giving it away. A lot of people couldn't usually wait until fall. They know I'd be by with green tomatoes. Or some turnip greens or cranberry beans. I'd just usually give it away." But now the vegetables he grows at the Hillcrest Community Garden, he sells at the Southeast Area Farmers Market. Tolbert says he likes to garden because "I like being out there in the open space and looking at the birds. I got a little bird bath up there. I call it my little poor man's cottage. I got my picnic table up there."
Woodard also grows many of her own vegetables and herbs in her yard.
She wants to convince others in the city to branch out and eat healthy, even if it costs a little more. She reasons, "It will be more expensive. But, you're worth it. And in the long run, it's really cheaper. Because when you start buying all those prescription medications." But, you can shop affordably when you are buying produce from your neighbors, like those at the Southeast Area Farmers' Market.
The Southeast Area Farmers' Market is open every Thursday through the end of October, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. It is located at the corner of Franklin St. SE and Fuller Ave. SE in Grand Rapids.
The market has grown. At the beginning of the season, about 25 to 30 customers came every week. Lately they've had more than 200 customers per week.
The Kent County Health Department, Michigan State University Extension Office, Divine Grace Church, and Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council are all co-sponsors of the Southeast Area Farmers Market. The MSU Extension Office and Health Department provide weekly cooking demonstrations to encourage trying different foods. This week, they grilled eggplant with honey and garlic seasoning. Woodard also tries to make sure some new and different fruits and vegetables are available every week.
In your voice
