Fresh Produce As 'Treatment' At Lankenau Medical Center

WYNNEWOOD, PA — Billy Young parked his car near a refrigerator on a farm at Main Line Health’s Lankenau Medical Center early Thursday morning.

He was greeted by Breah Banks, farm manager, who had 20 bags filled with fresh produce in the refrigerator ready to be delivered to Lankenau patients in North Philadelphia who are experiencing food insecurity.

The produce was grown on Main Line Health’s Lankenau Medical Center Delema G. Deaver's Wellness Farm on a half-acre on the hospital grounds.

The two loaded up Young’s car with the bags containing freshly grown produce with a brochure containing pictures of all of the produce and recipes.

“I love coming here,” Young said. “I drive to north Philly to drop off the bags every week. I look forward to it. The people are happy to see me. If it’s bad weather, some yell out the windows to leave the bags at the door.

“I just love meeting people.”

After the car was filled, Young drove off with the bags on his journey to North Philadelphia.

Urban Farming

Banks shared how she got into urban farming.

About 10 years ago, Banks said, she developed an interest in food insecurity.

At the time, she was at the former Philadelphia University, which is now Jefferson University, studying architecture. She was also working for a nonprofit Share Food Program, which distributes food to those in need.

In 2016, Greener Partners, Worcester, collaborated with Main Line Health to open the Delema G. Deaver Wellness Farm on Earth Day, April 22, 2016. Banks was hired as the manager.

Today, 45 to 50 different crops are grown on the farm.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, food insecurity surged due to lack of access to healthy food.

This week, the produce included eggplant, basil, cherries, sweet peppers, Swiss chard, tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes.

Wellness Farm

The goal of the Lankenau program is to help patients who are discharged from the hospital maintain a healthy diet. The produce is delivered to the homes of patients in the region who are experiencing food insecurity.

The farm also provides medical school graduates with an educational program in nutrition at the farm.

Two medical school graduates were at the farm Thursday helping out with watering the produce. Dr. Emily Correia graduated from Thomas Jefferson University Medical School, and Dr. Angela Zaladonis graduated from Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

As they watered the crop, the doctors said they enjoyed getting fresh air at the farm and learning how to plant vegetables and fruits.

The farm also provides educational programs for students and campers.

There is always something new to learn at the produce farm.

Banks demonstrated how to take edible seeds out of a large sunflower.

“You can just pull the seeds out of the sunflower,” she said, standing under a gazebo at the farm.

The farm is open to hospital patients and staff. It is not open to the general public.

Recipe provided by Main Line Health

Salad With Chard and Crisp Apples

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 15 minutes
• Serving size: 8

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of raisins
• 2-pound bunches of chard
• 1 large onion
• 2 crisp red apples
• 1 teaspoon of apple vinegar
• 1 freshly ground pepper

Instructions:

• Place raisins in a small bowl with water
• Cut stems off chard. Cut the leaves in strips
• Heat a Dutch oven, add onions, chard stems and apples, cook for two minutes
• Drain raisins, add raisins and chard leaves. Add raisin water, stir, remove from heat and add apple cider vinegar and pepper. Serve hot.