www.GetLocalFoods.com New website offers resources for eating right, living well
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hen Dr. Phillip Davis was in medical school a decade ago, he recognized physicians were well trained in treating illness, but received very little instruction in nutrition and disease prevention. Then, about four years ago Davis noticed he had borderline high blood pressure. With a family history of cardiovascular disease, that health scare sounded an alarm and Davis began changing his diet to incorporate more fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks. Davis took his healthy eating one step further after reading the research on the benefits of choosing sustainable, locally grown food. Those series of realizations spawned the idea for www.GetLocalFoods.com, a free online tool for consumers, growers, restaurants and markets to find and share information on nutritious, sustainable food that helps people live healthier lives. The site promotes local food producers, provides educational information on nutrition, and helps keep food dollars in the local economy. “The focus is to reconnect people with the origins of their food,” Davis said. “We hope they’ll begin to substitute grocery store trips with visits to local farms and markets where real food can be found.” As he and his wife, Angel French, began to develop the idea, Davis turned to a friend from medical school, Dr. Edward O’Bryan and his wife, Claire O’Bryan, a nurse practitioner at Hollings Cancer Center. Both have a passion for healthy eating, and often host farm to table dinners with
friends and family. Dr. O’Bryan then recruited registered dietitian Shani Friedman from East Cooper Hospital to the project, rounding out a team of health and medical professionals who truly understand the impact diet and food choices have on our overall health and wellness. A native of Israel, Friedman grew up eating what was grown in her back yard and community so she didn’t need much convincing to come on board this project. “It’s what I believe,” she said. “It’s the whole spirit of nutrition.” Local chef Iverson Brownell and farmers Dale Snyder (Sweetgrass Garden) and Pete Ambrose (Ambrose Family Farm) are also helping develop the concept. The idea is to create much more than just a basic directory; this site will be a visually appealing tool that connects and engages users. Rich imagery and videos will help the public gain a better understanding of the practices and methods of local food producers. There will be information on nutrition, recipes, new research findings, and videos on how to prepare food at home. The site is still in beta (preview) and they will be launching a campaign on www.Kickstarter.com in June to raise additional funds to enhance the site. Eventually it will expand across SC and to other cities so people can find local resources in their community. Additional plans include nutrition consults and the development of a Local Foods line of products, such as healthy snacks and nutrition bars that can be purchased on the site.
Pictured Above: From left: Angel French, Dr. Phillip Davis, Farmer Pete Ambrose, Drs. Edward & Claire O’Bryan, Kneeling: Chef Iverson Brownell, Farmer Dale Snyder Mission: To develop healthy sustainable food systems, promote proper nutrition and improve wellness in our communities. Future Vision: A healthier South Carolina where finding nutritious food is easy, fun and affordable.
www.GetLocalFoods.com www.Facebook.com/ GetLocalFoods www.Twitter.com/ GetLocalFoods P. Davis: 843-367-4652
Special Advertising Supplement | 2012 Profiles in Business
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