GREAT PARK TO CREATE WELLNESS GALLERY AT FARMERS MARKET

USDA Awards Grant to Fund New Health & Wellness Program

IRVINE – The Orange County Great Park Board of Directors has accepted a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to create a Wellness Gallery at the Great Park Farmers Market. The Wellness Gallery will feature an education area for visitors to learn about healthy living practices through a series of talks, hands-on cooking demonstrations and take-home recipe cards.

The free programs will consist of monthly health and wellness themes such as Let’s Get Moving, Grains and Breads, Delicious and Fresh, Local and Organic and Heart Health. Podcasts of selected talks will also be made available on the Great Park website. The Department of Agriculture awarded $22,500 to create the Wellness Gallery, and the grant was accepted at the January 19 Great Park Board of Directors meeting.

“We are thrilled that the USDA awarded the Great Park Farmers Market a grant to help us expand our program to raise awareness of healthy eating and good nutrition,” said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “Promoting health and wellness is one of the Great Park’s core values. This grant adds more educational healthy eating and living opportunities to our popular Sunday morning Farmers Market.”

Volunteer faculty and students from universities will assist in supporting wellness and education opportunities. Local volunteer chefs will teach hands-on cooking demonstrations showcasing easy healthy recipes for children, parents and seniors.

Since opening on October 31, 2010, more than 100,000 people have come out to the Great Park Farmers Market to shop for locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Gourmet food vendors allow shoppers to taste and buy honey, chesses, olive oil, breads and sauces. The Great Park Farmers Market is open every Sunday, rain or shine, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For more information, go to www.ocgp.org

About the Great Park

The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park features an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. Other features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The South Lawn lighted soccer fields and Community Garden will be added in 2012. For more information go to www.ocgp.org