Baptist DeSoto Hospital Offers Its First Farmer’s Market

(Southaven, MS) Baptist DeSoto Hospital has good reason to open its own Farmers Market.

“Mississippi is at the top of the list for obesity,” said Food and Nutrition Director, Tim Liskey. “It really starts with small changes and one of those changes is eating fresh produce.”

For the first time, the hospital offered fresh produce like watermelons and tomatoes.

“Education is one thing, but showing people how to do it is truly something else,” said Liskey.

The hospital has been awarded for its work in creating healthy hearts. Liskey says offering healthy foods a way to prevent future heart problems.

“It’s about making those changes, it’s about getting the word out there to all of our patients and the community at large, about eating healthy and how putting down the potato chips and eating sliced cucumbers makes a world of difference,” he said.

Over 500 people came through the farmers market to get fresh fruit. The market was originally opened for the hospitals employees and they hope to do it again in the future.

To promote healthy hearts, Baptist Desoto hospital will also be offering a free heart risk assessment starting in November.