In alignment with the growing garden movement spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama, Corner Bakery Cafe has introduced its “Get Fresh” program and announced the expansion of its Community Garden Grant to benefit 20 neighborhood gardens across the U.S. in 2010.
With every purchase of featured “Get Fresh” summer menu items, including the Berry Almond Swiss Oatmeal and the BBLT (Twice the Bacon & Local Tomatoes), Corner Bakery has pledged to donate a portion of proceeds to the garden grant, helping to bring neighbors together in support of fresh eating and healthy living. Guests also can contribute and show their support for community gardens by capturing photos of themselves enjoying a “Get Fresh” menu item and posting those images to the Corner Bakery Cafe Facebook page.
Back by popular demand, the BBLT sandwich, stacked with six slices of applewood smoked bacon, locally sourced tomatoes, fresh leaf lettuce and homemade cracked pepper balsamic mayo, is the celebrated star of the “Get Fresh” summer menu. Joining it is the Berry Almond Swiss Oatmeal, a chilled medley of low fat yogurt, rolled oats, green apples, bananas, currants and dried cranberries topped with toasted almonds, strawberries and blueberries.
“We feature locally sourced tomatoes and seasonal berries during the summer months and more than 40 different types of fresh produce throughout the year, and we’re extending our commitment to fresh produce beyond the doors of our cafes with our newly expanded Community Garden Grant,” said Jim Vinz, president and COO of Corner Bakery Cafe. “Now in its second year, the grant provides financial support to strengthen neighborhood gardens and community resources.”
Last year, participating gardens used funds to acquire necessary gardening equipment, expand and develop plot space and purchase new tools, plants and seeds. This year, participating gardens plan to use funds for everything from irrigation and fence construction to healthy cooking and nutrition classes for local community members.
“We are thrilled to have been selected as a recipient of Corner Bakery’s Community Garden Grant,” said Alison Shumaker, Garden Council Chair of the GRACE Community Gardens in Grapevine, Texas, one of the five new gardens selected in 2010. “The support we have received from the community, including Corner Bakery, is exciting and inspiring. We look forward to many, many harvests for years to come!”
Corner Bakery Cafe’s commitment to fresh extends beyond the summer months. Throughout the year, every Corner Bakery kitchen is stocked full of over 40 fresh produce items, including six different lettuces, a variety of seasonal apples, seedless English cucumbers and a rotating selection of over 13 fresh fruits.
