1. Farm to table
Grow2Heal, a program at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Fla., employs a full-time educator, chef and farmer. Thi Squire, community garden project manager for Grow2Heal, aims to combat the epidemic of chronic disease by growing healthy food and harvesting it for use in the hospital and neighboring community. Now in its fourth year, the garden grows heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cauliflower, kale, herbs, turmeric, chamomile, pineapples and more.
“Everything that we harvest goes directly to our kitchen. This past year I harvested at least 3,000 pounds of produce that went directly into our kitchen here at Homestead Hospital,” Squire told CBS Miami.
Homestead Hospital Executive Chef Drew Thomason told the news station that the hospital has the truest definition of farm-to-table, dishing out menu items such as fresh basil pesto, zucchini ragout and flatbread pizzas made with fresh tomato sauce.