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Winston-Salem, N.C. In an effort to encourage local residents to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, Forsyth Medical Center will host five community farmers markets and produce stands from June through October.

The farmers markets and produce stands, which are open to both Forsyth Medical Center employees and the public, will be held at the following Forsyth Medical Center-owned locations in Winston-Salem:

Medical Park Hospital (1950 S. Hawthorne Road, in the visitor parking lot) Every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Forsyth Medical Center (3333 Silas Creek Parkway, just outside the employee entrance/ICU building) Every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Novant Medical Group Central Billing Office (2000 Frontis Plaza Boulevard, just off Hanes Mall Boulevard) The first Tuesday of every month (beginning June 1) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Novant Health Triad Central Billing Office (4025 University Parkway, in the Republic Square business park) The second and fourth Tuesdays of every month (beginning June 10) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Novant Health Plaza Center (2085 Frontis Plaza Boulevard, just off Burke Mill Road) The third Tuesday of every month (beginning June 17) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Forsyth Medical Center teamed with Marshall Sink of Sink Farm and Greenhouses in Arcadia to bring the farmers markets and produce stands to these locations. They feature fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs and specialty food items

Two years ago, I wouldnt eat a vegetable on earth Sink said. Then I made a New Years resolution to start, and now I eat what I grow: squash, onions but still no tomatoes. Its nice that I can set up these markets in the hospitals and surrounding areas. I help encourage healthy eating habits among hospital staff and the public and they go home with fresh produce. Its a win-win situation.

Jacque Gattis, chief administrative officer for Novant Health, agreed. At Forsyth Medical Center weve been committed to supporting our employees and physicians to improve and maintain their health and fitness levels. We started these farmers markets in 2007 as part of a comprehensive program to support our employees health, and we liked the idea that the farmers markets could also benefit our patients and people who live and work in the surrounding area.

Another reason we wanted to do this is to support local farmers and the Triad economy, Gattis continued. In addition, by buying food closer to where its grown, we are in some small way helping to reduce the consumption of fuel needed to transport food from the farms to the stores.

### Forsyth Medical Center is part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit integrated group of hospitals and physician clinics, ranked as one of our nations 10 best healthcare systems. Novant staff cares for patients and communities in North and South Carolina. Hospital affiliates include Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte, NC area; Forsyth Medical Center and Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC; Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville, NC; and Brunswick Community Hospital in Supply, NC. The Novant Medical Group consists of more than 1,000 providers in 232 clinic locations. Other Novant facilities and programs include two nursing homes, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.