News Releases

BRIDGES AT BENT CREEK, CURA HOST LOCAL PRODUCE WEEK FOR SENIORS

MECHANICSBURG, PA, September 11, 2009 – Bridges of Bent Creek residents recently had the opportunity to learn where their produce is grown and harvested by attending the first “Local Produce Week” hosted by Cura Hospitality, the food service management provider for the Bridges senior living community.

The week kicked-off with a tour of Kegel’s Produce, a regional wholesale distributor of high quality, fresh fruits and vegetables, where residents were transported to the Lancaster, PA, facility so that they could experience how locally-grown produce is stored and maintained prior to its delivery to the Bridges.   “Many of our residents have the misconception that food is processed, and not delivered to us fresh and whole,” says Drew Kendall, Cura director of dining services.   During the hour-long tour, residents were able to view locally-grown arugula, green beans, cabbage, sweet corn, eggplant, nectarines, peaches and much, much more.   Residents were treated to fresh fruit and vegetables at the end of the tour.

Back at the Bridges community, Cura displayed their produce cart with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes and sweet corn along with Farmer Profiles describing where these foods come from.  Residents also enjoyed daily menu items prepared with locally-grown foods.

Bridges resident Stanley Bingham, 85, was thrilled to tour Kegel’s and experience the “Local Produce Week”. “I was raised on a dairy farm in Altoona, PA, where I also farmed corn, wheat and hay,” says Bingham who also participated in the Bridges first “Grower’s Day” held in May where residents planted vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers, arugula and tomatoes.

The “Local Produce Week” will be held semi-annually.

SAMPLE MENU

Appetizer
Spinach, Cosalo and Sons from Vineland, NJ
Button Mushrooms, Basciani Farms, Chester, PA
Hatfield Bacon, Hatfield, PA

Main Entrees
Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast, Free Range Chicken from Lancaster, PA
Herb Crusted Pork Chop, Thyme Rosemary, Goodness Gardens, Orange, NY
Hatfield Pork Loin, Hatfield, PA

Sides
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Ricotta Cheese, Tallman’s Potatoes, Schuylkill, PA
Grilled Asparagus, Consalo and Sons, Vineland, NJ
Sauteed Summer Squash and Zucchini, Leola Produce Auction, Lancaster

Beer Sampler
Black Berry Wheat, Appalachian Brewery, Harrisburg, PA

Dessert
Blueberry Cobbler A La Mode, Blueberries, Consalo and Sons, Vineland, NJ
Ice Cream, Hershey’s Creamery, Hershey, PA