MAKE HEALTHY HAPPEN MIAMI PUTS WORDS TO ACTION AT THE UPPER EAST SIDE FARMERS’ MARKET & HEALTH FAIR

Little Haiti – Can you imagine healthy Miami? With the help of the Miami Dade County Health Department’s (MDCHD) ‘Make Healthy Happen Miami’ campaign, this concept is no longer a vision but a reality! The Upper East Side Farmers’ Market is the newest star of this comprehensive initiative that inspires the community to lead a healthy life. The market will be offering fresh food straight from local farmers and a health fair on Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Northeast 79th Street and Biscayne Boulevard.
 
This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
 
“We are happy that markets like the Upper East Side Market are giving people in all neighborhoods much needed access to fresh food by making locally grown fruits and vegetables readily available to the community,” said Dr. Lillian Rivera, Administrator for the Miami-Dade County Health Department, “and we are happy to be a part of this Saturday’s event by provided blood pressure exams, heart screenings and other health fair activities.”
 
MDCHD and the Upper East Side Market want people to enjoy an exciting new way for the community to make healthy choices in their daily lives. Highlights at the market will include delectable newly-picked fruit, locally- grown vegetables and fresh seafood. The produce for sale is not only nutritious but affordable. The Uppers East Market accepts cash, credit, debit and food stamps, whose users receive $20 worth of food for a $10 EBT purchase.  In addition to the “straight off the farm” goods, the Miami-Dade County Department of Health will provide health screenings to the community both young and old. 
 
The Make Healthy Happen Miami campaign’s goal is to make healthy living as simple as taking a Sunday stroll in a new community garden or buying bright-red tomatoes and juicy oranges at the Upper East Side Farmers Market.  This Miami-Dade Department of Health initiative is creating healthy options for South Floridians all across the county so that the community can make healthy choices close to home. Supported by the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) nationwide program, Miami-Dade County is taking on the fight against obesity and inspiring the people of its community to help bring legislative changes affecting the wellbeing of their children and of the entire constituency.