On Thursday, June 11th, the dietitians along with
Chef Eric from McLaren Central Michigan took a trip to the local Mt. Pleasant
Farmers Market in downtown Mt. Pleasant. They went on a mission to find berries
to use in the Breakaway Café as part of their June Superfood promotional
activities. They were able to find a local farm, Sun and Rain Gardens out of
Ithaca, Michigan (approximately 25 miles south of Mount Pleasant). The farmer
was selling multiple varieties of strawberries, including Honeoyes, Jewels, and
Gallettas. Chef Eric and the dietitians, Layla and Emily, purchased one quart
of each variety. With the help of student volunteers, they were able to find
out the unique characteristics of the different varieties they had purchased.
Instead of baking with them or putting them into different recipes, they
decided to wash them and place the berries and their descriptions in the café
for taste testing by our customers. Each strawberry had a unique flavor profile
and everyone enjoyed being able to try locally grown berries!
