JANUARY - DECEMBER
Food & Nutrition Department
EVERY DAY, WE SERVE WITH THE BELIEF THAT FOOD IS MORE THAN FUEL — IT’S A CHANCE TO NOURISH, CONNECT, AND EMPOWER EVERY CHILD.
Mick Klüg Farms
Asparagus
Michigan is the largest asparagus producing state in the U.S.
Approximately 9,500 acres of asparagus is harvested in Michigan each year.
up to years
Watch asparagus grow!
without sunlight.
The thicker the stem, the older the plant.
If started from seed, asparagus takes up to three years to mature.
Many farmers use 1 year old asparagus crowns to speed up the harvesting process.
Mick Klüg Farms
Mick Klüg Farms is currently owned & run by Mick’s daughter Abbey, his son-in-law, Mark, Mark’s brother Ben and his wife, Bae.
Mick Klüg Farms is a family-owned & operated fruit & vegetable farm.
Mick Klüg Farms was established in 1974 after Mick Klüg took over his parents' farm.
Mick Klüg Farms is located in Support Local!
Mick Klüg Farms harvests all of their produce
Potatoes
Potatoes are a type of starchy vegetable, specifically a tuber.
Tubers are vegetables that are grown underground at the base of the plants root
Multiple potatoes can grow from one potato plant.
Potatoes are one of the most eaten vegetables in the U.S. plant meaning they need to be replanted each year.
Potassium
Potassium supports balancing fluid in the body & proper function of the muscles and nerves.
Once potassium enters the body, it functions as an electrolyte.
Electrolytes help amount of water in the body.
Helps to keep the body
Potassium is the THIRD most abundant mineral
The body is made 60% helps promote .
Potassium helps to regulate the heart rate
Potassium helps to regulate contractions.
Many runners eat foods high in potassium like pears before a run to
Carrots
Carrots are made up of 88% water.
root
vegetable
underground
which means they have
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity
Vitamin A helps see better at night more vivid colors during the day
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
How do you know carrots are good for the eyes? You never see a rabbit wearing glasses!
Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.
Apples
Michigan is the second largest apple producing state in the U.S.
over 30,000 acres of apple over 14 million apple trees.
Michigan harvests around 30 MILLION bushels of apples each year.
Michigan is home to around 850 family-run apple orchards harvested from August through October.
Apples are one of the most valuable crops grown in Michigan.
rest are processed into things like slices, juice & applesauce.
Plymouth Orchards
Plymouth Orchards grows apples blackberries raspberries & asparagus.
Plymouth Orchards is a womenowned family business and orchard
Plymouth Orchards was established in 1977 by Mary Emmett
Plymouth Orchards is
Plymouth Orchards operates their yearround. own cider mill & makes their own cider.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a common form of that are considered a vegetable.
Most mushroom farms are indoors so farmers can replicate natures perfect conditions.
Popular types of mushrooms include White Button, Crimino & Portabello which are all the SAME mushroom; they are just harvested at different ages
Umami –a primary taste found in mushrooms.
Some mushrooms stay underground for YEAR S.
White Button mushrooms are the most commonly grown type of mushroom.
Fungi are the LARGEST have classified 2,189 mushrooms as edible.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supports the development & maintenance of bones, teeth & muscles.
Vitamin D is the ONLY vitamin that the body can make on its own.
Vitamin D helps prevent cavities.
Vitamin D supports the immune system
Vitamin D is known as The Sunshine Vitamin. ”
Only a few foods like oily fish contain vitamin D.
Most people get the majority of their vitamin D when their skin is exposed to the sun
Vitamin D can help boost happy moods!
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium & phosphate from food.
Calcium and phosphate are essential for strong bones.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are a type of fruit since they are grown from a flower & contain
The bell pepper is the ONLY member of the pepper family that does not produce capsaicin
Capsaicin is the chemical that makes other
Bell peppers get their crunchy texture from being made up of 92% water YUM!
on how long they ripen.
Bell peppers all start out GREEN before they ripen.
Bell peppers are commonly nicknamed “sweet peppers.”
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity
Vitamin A helps see better at night more vivid colors during the day
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin – which means it absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like avocados!
Lettuce
Lettuce is a type of leafy green vegetable.
Lettuce plants grow to be 6 - 12 inches tall.
4.
Lettuce grows best in cooler climates.
Iceberg lettuce (also known as crisphead) is the most popular type of lettuce in the U.S.
2. Crisphead
3. Looseleaf
Romaine
Hydration
Hydration is the process of replacing fluids Water is the body’s main source of hydration.
Being hydrated helps convert food into energy
Hydration helps regulate body’s temperature
The body’s 6 essential nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals & WATER !
Water helps carry nutrients & oxygen to all the cells in the body.
Proper hydration can help to improve moods.
The body is better at fighting off when properly hydrated.
Sleep quality can improve when the body is hydrated.
Many fruits & vegetables have a high water content, making them hydrating to eat.
Eggs
Michigan farms produce each year, making them a top egg producing state.
Eggs are produced on farms all throughout the state of Michigan.
An eggs shell does not affect the taste or quality of the egg.
brown shells .
One hen can lay around 250 eggs per year.
The components of an egg include: the eggshell, the egg white &
Eggs are one of the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D.
Breed of hen determines the color of the eggshell.
brown, but they can also be blue, green or pink!
Sunrise Acres
Sunrise Acres is currently run by Marvin’s son Bill, his wife Susan and their two sons
Doug & Joe.
Sunrise Acres is located in Hudsonville, Michigan.
Sunrise Acres is a third-generation family-owned & operated egg farm.
Sunrise Acres was founded in 1949 by Marvin & June Patmos with 100 chickens.
Sunrise Acres grows their own crops to provide the majority of the feed for their birds. Starting at one day old, Sunrise Acres raises their chickens for their entire lives. The chickens’ health & wellbeing is a top priority for Sunrise Acres.
Peaches
Peaches are a type of stone fruit - a fleshy fruit that contains a hard “pit” inside.
Peaches come in two main categories: clingstone and freestone peaches.
Freestone peaches are the most common. There are over 300 different varieties of peaches.
Peaches are HAND .
can produce up to 66 pounds fruit each year.
Peaches take 3 - 5 months to grow once pollinated.
Peach trees usually grow to be around
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports good vision, growth & immunity
Vitamin A helps see better at night more vivid colors during the day
How far can you read down this eye chart?
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin A can help speed up the healing process of cuts & scrapes.
Vitamin A supports the immune system to fight off infections.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin – which means it absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like avocados!
Strawberries
fruit to ripen in the spring.
2. Ever-bearing 3. Day-neutral
strawberry has ONLY fruit with seeds on the outside.
Peak strawberry harvesting season lasts from April through June.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune systemthe body’s defense against infections.
ENERGY booster!
Vitamin C is also referred to as “ascorbic acid.”
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances in the environment.
The body cannot make vitamin C on its own - it has to come from food.
Vitamin C helps keep you happy & healthy! What do you call a vitamin that improves your eyesight?
A Vitamin C!
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin for healthy gums & teeth.
Sweet Corn
Corn is considered a grain, fruit & vegetable
The U.S. is the LARGEST producer, consumer & exporter of corn in the world.
Humans only eat sweet corn
An ear of corn ALWAYS of land can produce of sweet corn.
Corn is grown on EVERY continent except Antarctica.
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn. field crop.
In many other countries, corn is called “maize
1 corn stalk produces 1 - 3 ears of corn
Corn stalks can grow between 7 – 10 feet tall.
B Vitamins
B Vitamins help support the body’s energy levels, brain function & cell metabolism
essential B vitamins:
Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9 & Vitamin B12.
Water is needed to help the body absorb B vitamins.
B5, B12, C and E knock on your door…what do you do?
In-Vitamin!
B vitamins helps the body make energy from food.
The body cannot store most B vitamins, so they need to be regularly consumed.
B vitamins play a role in serotonin production.
Serotonin makes us feel happy
Beans
Michigan produces over 400 million pounds of bean each year.
Michigan is the # 1 producer of black beans in the U.S.
Michigan grows a wide variety of dry edible beans black beans, pinto beans, navy beans & many more!
Beans have been cultivated by humans for 6,000 years. All beans are legume family Beans are the seeds of flowering plants –typically grown in pods.
There are over 40,000 different types of beans.
The World’s Tallest Bean Plant was over 45 feet tall – equal to 3 fully grown giraffes stacked on top of one another.
Waldron Farms
Waldron Farms is a family-owned & operated farm specializing in dry beans.
Three generations of the Waldron family currently work on the farm full time. grows their dry beans along with other crops on over 1,300 acres of land.
Waldron Farms began in 1876.
Waldron Farms is located in Crystal, Michigan.
Country Ridge is Waldron Farms’ dry beans processing facility.
Country Ridge can process 120 100-pound bags of beans per hour.
Country Ridge processes beans from many Michigan farms.
Oranges
Oranges are a type of citrus fruit known for their sweet, juicy pulp & leathery rind
Popular Types of Oranges:
1. Navel
2. Hamlin
3. Valencia
oranges are There are over 600 varieties of oranges.
One orange tree can grow THOUSANDS oranges in its lifetime! = of orange juice!
Sub-tropical climates are ideal for growing oranges.
Fiber
Fiber supports movement through the digestive system
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate body doesn’t digest; it simply passes through.
Soluble fiber dissolves in water…it helps regulate blood sugar levels and removes cholesterol from
Insoluble fiber is sometimes referred to as “roughage. ”
2 types of fiber:
1. Soluble fiber
Insoluble fiber
Fiber is ONLY found in plant foods.
Dairy & meat products do not have any fiber.
Fiber helps to regulate the body’s use of sugar.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water…it helps food move throughout the digestive system.
BOTH forms of fiber are important & beneficial to overall health.
Soybeans
Soybeans are a type of legume, meaning they are beans that grow inside pods
Soybeans are one of the most widely grown crops in over 80 million acres planted each year.
soybeans that are harvested early.
Soybean pods usually contain 4 soybeans.
Soybeans were first grown in the U.S. for livestock.
Soybeans are nicknamed the “miracle bean.”
Most soybean plants take 120 days to grow from planting to harvest.
In addition to foods like tofu, soy milk, edamame, etc. soybeans are also used for many everyday products like crayons candles, fuel & more!
Magnesium
Magnesium helps the body make energy strong bones & keep
Magnesium is a the body needs larger amounts of it.
Minerals, like occur in Foods like absorb minerals through their roots.
Every cell in the body needs magnesium to help produce energy.
Magnesium helps the body use other vitamins & minerals more effectively.
Magnesium helps muscles move and relax.
Magnesium helps the body make proteins, which are important for repair
Magnesium helps support a healthy nervous system
Most fruits & vegetables contain magnesium.
Celery
Celery is a crunchy, green vegetable that grows in stalks.
The darker the celery stalks are, the more nutrients they contain.
1 bunch of celery consists of 10 - 12 individual stalks.
Celery is a long-season crop that takes up to 140 days to be ready to harvest after planting.
Celery prefers to grown 6 hours of full sun and afternoon shade.
Celery is biennial plant.
Celery 95%
Celery stalks grow to be 12-18 inches tall.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports proper blood function, bone growth & kidney health. The body has the ability to create vitamin K on its own.
2 main forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble which means… It absorbs better into the body when eaten with foods with some fat like olive oil or avocados
Vitamin K helps the
Vitamin K helps produce proteins that bind themselves to calcium - this helps build strong bones.
Vitamin K supports heart health.
Vitamin K plays a role in proper blood function- specifically with clotting.
Cranberries
Cranberries are a type of berry known for their tarte taste.
Cranberries are native to North America
Cranberries are commercially grown in man-made wetlands or bogs.
Commercial cranberry farming was started in Massachusetts.
Cranberries are 90%
of cranberries produced are sold fresh…the rest are turned into juice. pockets that allow them to float.
Cranberries are typically harvested in the fall between late September & early November. 20% of all cranberries consumed in the U.S. each year, are consumed the week of Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Manganese
Manganese supports the body’s energy levels & protecting its cells from damage.
Manganese is a trace mineral the body only needs small amounts of it.
Foods like cranberries absorb minerals through their roots.
Manganese helps Manganese is
Minerals, like manganese naturally against infections.
brain health
.
helps the body blood clots helping wounds heal faster!
Watermelon
Watermelons are a type of fruit that grow on long, trailing vines close to the ground.
Watermelons are a part of the gourd family, cucumbers, squash & pumpkins.
Seedless watermelon are the most popular type of YUM!
Watermelons are made up of 92% water.
Billions of pounds of watermelon is grown in the U.S. each year.
National Watermelon Month!
Watermelons are grown in 96+ countries around the world.
Gateway Farm
Gateway Farm is a cutting-edge local community farm hub.
Gateway Farm is certified organic.
Gateway Farm offers many educational events & workshops.
Gateway Farm grows 100+ different kinds of fruits, veggies & herbs.
Gateway Farm offers Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes - boxes of produce harvested straight from their farm to YOU!
“A place of abundance & beauty.”
Gateway Farm is located in Plymouth, MI.
