![\"Norway](\"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Norway-Gen-Store.jpg\")
<\/a>(Newport, NY \u2013 Sept. 2013) The Norway General Store in Newport is the newest rural convenience store to participate in the vegetable promotion project as part of the “Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play” (CHP) grant through Herkimer County HealthNet working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County (CCE).<\/p>\nStore owners Darlene Siver and Mary Bartlett are now promoting fresh vegetables.\u00a0 A display in the front of the store provides free information for customers on a featured vegetable of the month along with a recipe that includes the featured vegetable. The 2013 Herkimer County Local Foods maps are also available.\u00a0 Jill Turner from CCE completed a customer survey in July, noting that there was a lot of interest in purchasing fresh local vegetables at this store.<\/p>\n
Zucchini and summer squash were featured during the month of August with Zucchini Parmesan offered on their restaurant\u2019s menu.\u00a0 The store also baked fresh zucchini bread along with \u201cgrab-and-go\u201d containers of Zucchini Parmesan.\u00a0 All servings sold out.<\/p>\n
A local gardener donated a large amount of yellow squash from their garden to the store, which was offered free of charge to customers. The store also has a variety of fresh vegetables for sale in their cooler.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur customers have been taking a lot of information on vegetables from the display.\u00a0 They particularly like the healthy vegetable recipes and the Local Foods Maps,\u201d said Siver.<\/p>\n
This month the store is featuring sweet corn with Corny Chili recipe served in their restaurant.\u00a0 Broccoli will be featured in October, cabbage in November and potatoes in December.<\/p>\n
The Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play grant is funded by the New York State Department of Health and was granted to 22 of the 62 counties through 2015.\u00a0 Locally, the grant is administered by Herkimer County HealthNet.\u00a0 In an effort to save money in regard to health care costs and productivity losses, Herkimer County HealthNet along with other organizations throughout New York State are working to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes by making it easier to be physically active and making healthier food choices.<\/p>\n