July 25, 2007

Beat the heat and eat fresh fruits and vegetables during the dog days of summer

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- July 25, 2007 – As temperatures soared Philabundance distributed about 500 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables in less than a month to thousands of Delaware Valley residents living at or below the poverty line for whom access to fresh produce is limited and making healthy meal choices difficult or impossible.

Through its network of more than 600 neighborhood organizations in the Delaware Valley , its Community Kitchen and its summer program Share the Harvest, Philabundance is providing 900,000 people including 200,000 children with food this summer. Between June 19 and July 10 alone, Philabundance collected and distributed close to one million pounds of fresh produce – a 28 percent increase over last year at this time.

“Although everyone, especially young children and the elderly, is vulnerable to the dangers of excessive heat during the summer months, for the population Philabundance serves the risks of common heat related illnesses and afflictions is greater,” says Bill Clark, Philabundance’s president/executive director and a 30-year food industry professional. “When poverty enters the equation, with reduced access to proper nutrition, the risks go up, but one thing everyone can do to be safe is to stay hydrated. That means drinking plenty of fluids and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.”

In a recent interview, Dr. Jill Baren of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and according to the University of Pennsylvania Health System staying hydrated is critical to staying safe especially during excessive heat waves. They recommend regularly drinking water even before you feel thirsty, while avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated beverages which can cause dehydration.

While drinking plenty of water and fluids is of the utmost importance to staying healthy during the summer, the consumption of proper nutrients in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables can help to optimize one’s health and assist in hydration. Foods that help prevent dehydration and alleviate thirst include watermelon, cantaloupe, lemon, beets, corn, broccoli, cucumber, spinach, summer squash and zucchini, to name just a few.

Beat The Heat And Eat Healthy This Summer
The US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends aiming for color when choosing produce. Colorful vegetables are not only appealing to the eye, but provide the essential health-promoting benefits of vitamins, minerals and fiber. According to their web site, choose orange, dark green, legumes, starchy and other vegetable for adequate nutrient intake. Proper food handling is also very important to staying healthy during the summer when spoilage is more common. Properly washing, storing and preparing food can ensure avoiding the risks of food poisoning and other serious to grave health risks.

“The bounty of our agricultural region and the generosity of individuals and businesses should mean that those in need should not suffer from the heat or go hungry this summer,” says Bill Clark. “Yet the need for fresh produce is great and distributing it still greater. We encourage everybody to learn about staying safe from the heat and how to get the most out of the season’s bounty and proper nutrition. Programs, like Share the Harvest that encourages our neighbors and local farmers to share the bounty from their gardens and farms, continue to make a difference and we encourage more people to get involved and help to have a safe and healthy summer.”

For more information visit www.philabundance.org, or call 215-339-0900.

Philabundance is the region’s largest food bank and hunger relief organization. Working with over 600 neighborhood organizations in both Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, Philabundance fights hunger and malnutrition principally by collecting and distributing food to people in need. For more information about Philabundance, call 215-339-0900 or visit www.philabundance.org.