Come on out this Saturday, March 12th for
Second Saturday Downtown Mt. Vernon
Harvest is excited to be offering live entertainment as well
as BBQ sauce samples, Mustard samples, coffee samples and  Goat Milk Fudge samples!
"With enough coffee anything is possible"  ~ Karen Salmansohn
What's new in the store?

Herbert's Chow-Chow
From The Ohio Relish Company
Based on a family favorite. Drawing on the end-of-the season traditions from many cultures, Herbert's Original  Chow-Chow contains a perfect blend of spices and fresh vegetables, resulting in a savory and versatile relish.   Like it hot?  That's why they've taken their original recipe and added more heat and spice for an even zestier relish.
FeaturedVendor
Featured Vendor / Producer:   
Bella Bar, LLC
Bella Bar, LLC produces the line of Athena Greek Yogurt Bars.  Athena Greek Yogurt Bars combine a decadent yogurt coating with delicious, natural flavors to create the perfect snack for the entire family.  With five bar flavors, they offer 10 grams of protein, probiotics, and powerful antioxidants in one great tasting 50 gram bar.

Our brand was created as a nutritional snack option for the entire family.  The nutrition expert behind the bars has more than 25 years of experience in the confectionary and protein bar industry.

The current flavors of Athena Greek Yogurt Bars are:  blueberry, pumpkin spice, pomegranate/ acai berry, apple and chocolate coconut.

Check out their Facebook page or their website and stop into the store and grab a bar (or two)!
FoodFacts
Food Facts

Spinach


Spinach is a green, leafy vegetable that is cheap and affordable for everyone. It is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients. All of these together make spinach very beneficial for a number of vital processes. Due to the vast range of benefits from this vegetable, it is advisable to consume spinach on a regular basis. One of the biggest reasons why spinach is so important and valued around the world is that it is very durable. It can even survive through the winter and be just as healthy in the spring.

It can be eaten raw as a part of many salads, and it can also be cooked or sauteed down into a reduced form. This can be eaten as a side dish vegetable, or included in a number of recipes for soups, stews, and casseroles.

It has been used in various parts of the world as a medicinal plant specifically included in cooking to help increase overall health. Let's take a closer look at why this leafy vegetable is such an integral part of our overall health.

Nutritional Value of Spinach
The various health benefits of spinach are due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients, including potassium, manganese, zinc, magnesium, iron and calcium. Spinach is a green vegetable which has a very wide distribution. It can be grown as a backyard crop or bought from the market at affordable prices. It is a source of vitamins like folate, niacin, vitamin A, B6, C and traces of the rest of the essential vitamins. Other important elements, including thiamine and riboflavin, which are used in various reactions in our body, are also found in spinach. Spinach is also rich in pigments like beta carotene, lutein, xanthene, and chlorophyllin. The best part is that spinach has a low fat content. Spinach offers a wide range of benefits to most of our physiological processes, whether consumed in raw or cooked form.

Health Benefits of Spinach
Spinach has many important roles to play in maintaining a healthy body; various health benefits of spinach include the following:

Good Eyesight: Spinach is a rich source of beta carotene, lutein and xanthene, all of which are beneficial for eyesight. Beta carotene is supplied to the eyes by cooked spinach. It can prevent people from suffering from vitamin A deficiency, itching eyes, eye ulcers and dry eyes. This is also due to some of the anti-inflammatory properties of spinach, which can reduce the puffiness or irritation in the eyes.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):AMD or Retinitis pigmentosa is responsible for causing blindness. It is due to the degeneration of lutein and xanthene which form a central part of the retina. According to research conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the consumption of spinach can result in regaining two vital pigments and effectively preventing AMD. Spinach also contains a wealth of antioxidants that reduce the harmful effects of free radicals, which are known to negatively impact vision and cause age-related conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration as well.

Neurological Benefits: Several components of spinach like potassium, folate, and various antioxidants are known to provide neurological benefits to people who regularly consume them. According to Neurology, folate reduces due the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease, so spinach is a very good idea for people who are at high risk of neural or cognitive decline. Potassium is an integral part of brain health as well, and it has been linked to increased blood flow to the brain, and heightened cognition, concentration, and neural activity.

Maintains Blood Pressure: Spinach has a very high content of potassium and a low content of sodium. This composition of minerals is very beneficial for high blood pressure patients as potassium lowers and sodium raises the blood pressure. The folate present in spinach also contributes to the reduction of hypertension and relaxes blood vessels, while maintaining proper blood flow. By reducing blood pressure and relaxing the tension of vessels and arteries, you can reduce stress on the cardiovascular system and increase oxygenation to the body's organ systems for optimal functionality.

Strengthens Muscles: A component of spinach, factor C0-Q10, which is an antioxidant, plays an important role in strengthening muscles, especially heart muscles which continuously pump blood to all parts of the body. According to the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, C0-Q10 can be used to prevent and treat many cardiovascular diseases like hyperlipidemia, heart failure, hypertension and coronary heart disease.
Bone Mineralization: Spinach is a good source of Viatmin K, which functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix, thereby leading to bone mineralization. Apart from this, other minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus also help in building up of strong bones. This in turn can prevent an individual from developing osteoporosis of the bones. These minerals are also essential for maintaining healthy teeth and nails.

Reduced Risk of Cataracts: The lutein and zeaxanthin present in spinach both act as strong antioxidants, thus preventing the eyes from the harsh effects of UV rays that can lead to cataracts. They also reduce the impact of free radicals, which can be a major cause of cataracts and other eye conditions.

Proper Metabolic Activity: There is a reason why doctors recommend adding spinach in a significant way to your diet. The amount of protein found in spinach is impressive for any vegetable, and they are easily broken down by enzymes into amino acids that are essential to humans. The re-formed mammal proteins aid our muscle development and growth, our body's ability to heal wounds, and provides a boost for our entire metabolism, encouraging all of our organ systems to function at their optimal level. Also recent study suggests that Thylakoid found in spinach can curb cravings and hunger which can further help in weight loss.

Anti-Ulcerative: It has been found that spinach and some other vegetables have the ability to protect the mucous membrane of the stomach, thereby decreasing the occurrence of gastric ulcers. Furthermore, the glycocyclerolipids found in spinach can boost the strength of the digestive tract lining, thereby preventing any unwanted inflammation in that part of the body that can cause harm.

Prevents Atherosclerosis and Strokes: Atherosclerosis is caused due to the hardening of the arteries. A pigment called lutein that is found in spinach has been shown to reduce the occurrence of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. This is due to the fact that spinach proteins tend to reduce the cholesterol and other fat deposits in the blood vessels.

Fetal Development: Folate found in spinach is needed by a growing fetus for proper development of its new nervous system. Defects like cleft palate or spina bifida may occur due to a deficiency of folate. The vitamin A contained in spinach is advised to be consumed in higher quantities by the mother. Vitamin A is required in the lung development of the fetus as well, and can be transferred during breast-feeding, so spinach consumption should be continued after birth as well.

Anti-Inflammatory Capacity: There are many anti-inflammatory compounds found in spinach, more than a dozen, in fact. They are classified into the category ofmethylenedioxyflavonol glucuronides, and spinach is one of the most powerful vegetables when it comes to reducing inflammation throughout the body. This not only means protecting the heart from dangerous inflammation and preventing cancer, but also in reducing the inflammation and associated pain from conditions like arthritis and gout, which afflict millions of people around the world.

Anti-Cancer Properties: Spinach is made up of various important constituents that have been found to be promising in the treatment and prevention of various kinds of cancer. These include bladder, prostate, liver and lung cancers. Different constituents in spinach like folate, tocopherol, and chlorophyllin act via different mechanisms to treat and protect patients suffering from cancer.

Recent studies have revealed that spinach is very effective against aggressive prostate cancer, and this has been linked to epoxyxanthophylls, which are unique carotenoids, along with neoxanthin and violaxanthin, that directly reduce tumorous activity and the spread of cancer throughout the body.
Skin Protection: Different phytonutrients and pigments have been shown to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, including UV rays. These not only protect, but also repair the damaged genes to some extent, thereby preventing skin cancer in the long run.

Protein Source for Infant Growth: 'Popeye the Sailor Man' is known for his obsession with spinach. The cartoon was deliberately aimed to convince children to eat spinach and get strong. Infants are advised to be fed with spinach, which is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. These will result in proportionate development in their essential growing stages.

Source: OrganicFacts.net

Recipe

*These ingredients can be found at Harvest right now

2016 Sugar House Tours
Butcher Family Maple Products
Open House and Tours
March 12 and 13
10:00 am - 5:00 pm


Free tours, samples and demonstrations

New for 2016: Fresh maple cotton candy!

12360 Butcher Road, Mt. Vernon, Ohio 43050
UpcomingEvents
Upcoming Events



March 2016
10
11-12
18-19
12
12-13
13
13
Morrow County Community Center
13
Lutheran Memorial Camp
15
15
Hosted by AG Credit - Mt. Gilead
19
Mt. Gilead State Park
26
Cooking Chicken - Taking the bird from roasted to broth
A Harvest @ The Woodward class series - see below for more information




 
Woodward Opera House
 
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Woodward Opera House
is situated in the heart of Mount Vernon's Central Business District. This national landmark invites you to step back in time to the mid-1800s and experience history!
While viewing the Woodward, imagine what it must have been like to perform here.
Take in the 19th century architecture, admire the original paintings still hanging
on the walls, and if you listen closely and quietly, you may even hear a
fiddle or banjo picking out a familiar tune.

 
Tours of the Woodward Opera House are available during the Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival, First Fridays events, and Mount Vernon's Christmas Walk. Special group tours may be arranged by calling 1-800-837-5282 or (740) 392-6102. For current information on the project or to contact us, visit our website, www.TheWoodward.org

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Licking County - Links


Harvest @ The Woodward

Harvest is pleased to announce that as part of our Local Foods Initiative that we will begin offering various classes to the public allowing you to learn more about your food and where it comes from.  Some classes may focus on helping you grow / produce / cook your own food, while others will focus on educating you on how the food that you purchase is grown / produced and brought to harvest. We've also had classes about health and nutrition.

We are looking for people who would like to host classes! If there is a subject that you are passionate about and you'd like to share your knowledge, please contact us and let us know! Classes do not necessarily have to be food related, if you have an idea please do contact us.

Classes can be paid for by cash, check or credit card unless otherwise specified.

Upcoming Class List:

Class: Cooking Chicken - Taking the bird from roasted to broth
Information:  Our host Katie Reed will demonstrate how to take a whole chicken and prepare it for roasting. She will then demonstrate how to best remove the meat to then make a delicious chicken salad. Once the bird has been plucked of meat you don't want to throw away the carcass, Katie will show you how to turn it into a savory broth / stock!
Cost of Class:  $15
Date:  March 26, 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Location:  The Place @ The Woodward, 120 S. Main St., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050
Presented by:  Katie Reed
How to Register:  Stop into Harvest @ The Woodward!


Historical Marker for the Knox County Infirmary 
 
Learn more about how you can make the purchase of a historical marker for the Knox County Infirmary happen.
ContactUs
Clint A. LeVan, Store Manager | Harvest @ The Woodward 

Store Hours:  Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sun - Closed

You can also sign up by text!  Simply text LOCALFOODS to 22828



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