Marshfield Clinic Food Expo Educates on Healthy Eating
Food is an essential part of everyday living. It contributes to health, social interaction, and is where consumers spend a substantial part of their income. For all of its importance, many people don’t even consider the origins of the food they are putting up to their lips. This disconnect is troubling for many local food growers and they aim to help educate the community at their upcoming Local Food Expo.
“The Local Food Expo is an educational event that allows Marshfield area farmers and food producers to showcase their products to the community,” saidLaura Zelenak, Health Educator for the Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach. “All producers are located within 50 miles of Marshfield.”
The event is hosted by a partnership of Marshfield Clinic and Healthy Lifestyles – Marshfield Area Coalition’s Nutrition committee and the First Presbyterian Green Team. This is the second year for the event.
“The idea was born from Nutrition Committee discussions with local farmers who stated that informing people about the benefits of buying local food and where to buy it was their biggest challenge,” said Zelenak. “The Healthy Lifestyles coalition wants people to eat more whole, nutritious food and farmers want to be able to sell their products; this event serves to accomplish both,” she said.
In this era where consumers feel so connected with each other with items such as social media, they have also sometimes become even less connected to the more simple aspects of life, such as food.
When consumers enter the grocery store to tick off a box in their to-do list, they might not be considering the possible health and economic repercussions to what they are choosing. Zelenak thinks it’s important that consumers are thoughtful about what food they are choosing.
“There are many nutritional, economic, environmental, and social benefits to buying local 
food,” she said. “Local food tastes better! Local food travels less, so it’s generally more nutritious and saves gas and packaging. When residents buy products from local businesses, more of their dollar is spent in the local community, which is better for the Marshfield area economy. Being connected with others is another important aspect to good health and the Local Food Expo is a great way to make connections with farmers and other community members that can last the whole year.”
Zelenak hopes people choose to check out the event this year because it has become even bigger and better. This event is both free and family-friendly, and will feature booths, educational opportunities, an interactive bingo activity for raffle prizes, and of course, food.
“We have a new, larger space this year at First Presbyterian Church. We will have a greater variety of local farmers, producers, and educational displays. Two other exciting additions to the 2017 Expo include: The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Spudmobile featuring eight exhibits that take visitors on a journey from the farmer’s field right to their dinner plates. We will also have Chef C’s Munchie Mobile offering locally sourced meals for purchase,” she said.
Zelenak is thankful to participating farmers and to the Coalition, without whom the event would not be successful. Contributions from members of the Nutrition Committee and many other contributors including First Presbyterian Church, Central Rivers Farmshed, UW-Extension Wood County, Wood County Health Department, Wood County Farm to School, Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library, and many others also make this event possible.
Local Food Expo
When: March 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Lincoln Ave
Cost: FREE
