Omaha Farmer’s Market and the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition invite you to Food Day Omaha 2012!

For the second year, Food Day Omaha will be presented by the collaboration of the Omaha Farmers Market and the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition.The Omaha Farmers Market will extend its season by one Sunday in October in order coordinate with the national Food Day date, and the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition will help to exemplify their mission by coordinating free programming about many aspects of healthy living for kids and families.

In addition to the usual 75 local area growers at the Omaha Farmers Market, Food Day Omaha visitors will be able to connect with representatives from a variety of local organizations and businesses that focus on health and food-related issues. After-school programs, such as Completely Kids and the Boy and Girl Scouts of the Midlands, will be offering interactive activities where children can plant their own herbs and learn to make (and sample!) healthful and delicious snacks themselves. To inform Nebraskans about regional agriculture and food policy issues including the Farm Bill, the Nebraska Farmers Union and the Center for Rural Affairs will be also have representatives at the event to put a face and a name to these important issues.

This year, we are excited to highlight Growing Cities, a documentary produced by local filmmakers that examines the role of urban farming in America, as well as a physical extension of the documentary ‘Truck Farm Omaha’ (a portable garden right in the bed of a pickup)!  Similarly to 2011, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle will proclaim the day officially ‘Food Day Omaha’ throughout the City. We hope that visitors will sign the ‘Eat Real Pledge’ to commit to the five Food Day goals. Those who signed the pledge at the 2011 Food Day Omaha will be able to assess their progress towards these goals. With a focus on the whole family, Food Day Omaha 2012 will include both fun (and educational!) activities for kids as well as insightful facts directly from the experts for adults.

Connect with Food Day Omaha on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FoodDayOmaha) & Twitter (https://twitter.com/fooddayomaha) or by e-mailing Danelle (dmyer@centerfornutrition.org).