For this year’s event, Good Bowls teamed up again with Weaver Street Market and our farm partner was Burkett Farms out of Raleigh. The event is an opportunity for people from the community to come and learn about local restaurants and producers and sample some of the unique food and beverage creations that are coming out of North Carolina. We worked with Weaver Street’s Executive Chef Glenn Lozuke to come up with our menu. We decided to showcase our Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl as well as our version of Chicken Fried Rice. All of our recipes incorporate the Med-South diet principles so people were eager to sample the healthy spin on these classics that included plenty of olive oil, whole grains, and roasted vegetables.

This is where we need everyone’s help! Unfortunately, the funding to continue the HOP program is not currently in the North Carolina State Budget. If the legislature goes into recess before passing a budget then HOP would pause its services on July 1, 2025 and if it’s not included in the fall, the program would end altogether. The federal government matches the amount of money allocated to the program - for every $35 dollars that the state contributes the federal government contributes $65. This money goes directly into the health of North Carolinians and into strengthening community economies across the state. It is an incredible opportunity that could be lost!

Gary and his family have sold their fresh vegetables at farmers’ markets, in grocery stores statewide, to restaurants, and to the local food distributor, Farmer Foodshare.  It’s through Farmer Foodshare that Good Bowls(Equiti Foods)  and Weaver Street Market get cases of Wise’s fresh produce every week that we include in our Good Bowls. Weaver Street Market uses the produce to make its healthy prepared foods and for the hot bar.