Trailside Organic Farm is in the swing of its second season growing fresh, organic produce for Cornwall Manor, a senior living facility in Cornwall, Pennsylvania. The farm is a collaborative effort between Cornwall Manor and the Rodale Institute, the regenerative agriculture nonprofit in eastern Pennsylvania.
The farm provides hyperlocal produce (produce consumed where it's grown) for dining services to incorporate into meals. "The idea of prescription produce, how we can use eating well to be preventive in our healthcare, Rodale is interested in that. And we as a senior living community are too," says Cornwall Manor Vice President for Advancement Vicki Deitzler. The project was announced in March 2021 and held its inaugural growing season last year.
Trailside's seasonal harvest includes green beans, cantaloupe, corn, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, bell peppers, sugar snap peas, potatoes, pumpkins, scallions, spinach, summer squash, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, and tomatoes, along with a variety of herbs, edible flowers, and cut flowers.
Cornwall Manor's food service is run in-house. "Having hyperlocal produce influences our menus," Deitzler says. "Our culinary team works directly with the farm team to come up with what and how much they want to grow. It's all based on what we're looking to get for our dining program," Deitzler says.
Read more at food-management.com