Fresh Food, Better Health, Stronger Connections
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Every Tuesday from May through October, CAPS & Maple City can be found at the Goshen Farmers Market — sharing fresh food, encouraging healthy choices, and building relationships with families in our community.
“Through our Fresh Food Therapy program, 20–25 clinic patients each year receive $15 in weekly coupons to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local market vendors,” explained Ingrid Moser, Registered Dietician Nutritionist at CAPS & Maple City. “Participants are often managing diabetes or prediabetes, and the program gives them an opportunity to explore healthy foods without risking limited grocery dollars on something unfamiliar.”
Sometimes, trying something new leads to something wonderful.
One participant gained the confidence to buy an eggplant and recreate a recipe she had seen on TikTok. Another discovered that the black raspberries growing in their backyard were edible, delicious — and free. One participant was thrilled to find qualities, a leafy green he had not eaten in more than 20 years, since moving to the United States from Mexico. Taste testing, recipes, and nutrition activities help make unfamiliar foods a little less intimidating, while some participants have also experienced improvements in their health, including weight loss and improved A1C levels.
And, as food so often does, this program brings people together.
“Participants see one another week after week, friendships form, and our staff get to know families beyond the walls of the clinic. Many continue returning to the market after their Fresh Food Therapy year has ended,” shared Moser.
Our partnership with the Goshen Farmers Market stretches back more than 16 years and also helps connect patients experiencing food insecurity with emergency food vouchers through the market’s Share the Bounty program. The partnership supports local growers, introduces families to culturally familiar and locally grown foods, and helps bring more shoppers to the Tuesday market.
Fresh Food Therapy is about healthier eating, but its impact reaches much further. It creates room to try something new, reconnect with a taste of home, support a local farmer, make a new friend, and build healthier habits — all while strengthening the relationships that make our community thrive.
