Locally Grown, Affordable, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Offered at Weekly Farmers' Market Provide Healthy Food Choices for Families in Watts

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kaiser Permanente’s Watts Counseling and Learning Center will present a $10,000 check on Saturday, July 19 to the Watts Healthy Farmers’ Market at its one-year anniversary celebration. The celebration, free to the public, takes place during the weekly Saturday market, which is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Ted Watkins Memorial Park, 103rd Street and Central Avenue. A highlight of the celebration is a two-hour chef demonstration and healthy food discussion by Gill Boyd, CEC, chef instructor for the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. The market will also feature ten produce vendors; basic health screenings; children’s immunizations; health and nutrition information; children’s activities; free shade trees; live entertainment; and free carrot cake for the vendors and their customers.

"The true value of the market is seeing community families making real changes in their food choices each week,” states Joanne A. Robinson, M.Ed, executive director for the Center. “I’m proud that Kaiser Permanente and the other collaborators have had a direct role in supporting this market through its first year and beyond."

Ruth Conley, a Watts community champion and social-work associate at the Center, spearheaded the establishment of the market, and as a result of her many good works, was awarded the 2007 David Lawrence Community Service Award. The annual award, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts to "improve the health of our communities," and comes with $10,000 that the recipients can donate to the charity of their choice. Underscoring her commitment to the success of the market, Conley is donating her service award money to Sustainable Economic Enterprises of L.A. (SEE-LA) to support the Watts Healthy Farmers’ market. The market is operated by SEE-LA as one of its nonprofit community activities.

“This market is another example of Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to improving the nutritional and healthy lifestyle choices in the communities we serve,” said Diana Bontá, RN, DrPH, vice president, public affairs, Kaiser Permanente Southern California region. “We are proud to be a part of this collaborative effort to create and sustain a community gathering place for healthy eating choices.” In 2007, Kaiser Permanente provided a $50,000 grant to SEE-LA to operate the market until it can be self-sustaining.

The collaborative effort includes Kaiser Permanente; Children’s Hospital L.A./USC Keck School of Medicine; the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation; Watts Healthcare Corporation; Los Angeles Youth Opportunity Movement; Champions for Change; and Sustainable Economic Enterprises of L.A.

“We know the residents of South Los Angeles have limited options when it comes to healthy food,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who represents the area. “The weekly market has been a welcome addition to the Watts community, allowing residents to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for their families.” WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) participants can redeem farmer’s market vouchers to purchase fresh, unprepared fruits, vegetables, and herbs. For details, call (323) 463-3171 or www.farmernet.com.

For more than 40 years, the Center has offered free or low-cost counseling, summer camps, and preschool for families living in the greater Watts area. The families need not be members of Kaiser Permanente to utilize the Center’s services. For details about all the Center’s services, call (323) 564-7911.

Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s leading integrated health plans. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Region includes more than 55,800 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,400 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at www.kaiserpermanente.org.

Kaiser Permanente
Southern California Region
Marie Y. Lemelle, 626-405-5384