Hospitals are often viewed as places of healing where medicine, technology, and clinical expertise intersect. But increasingly, organizations are recognizing that healing goes far beyond prescriptions and procedures. Nutrition, wellness, and human connection all play critical roles in recovery and well-being. With this in mind, Aramark Healthcare+ has launched an initiative that brings a taste of the community directly into hospitals: on-site farmers markets.
These farmers markets are not only a place to buy fresh produce and local goods; they are a celebration of health, community, and culture. By creating welcoming spaces filled with fresh flavors and personal connections, Aramark is redefining what a hospital environment can feel like. Patients, visitors, and staff alike are able to experience a vibrant market atmosphere—something that lifts morale, inspires wellness, and provides direct access to healthy, locally sourced foods.
“Aramark Healthcare+ is committed to going beyond for our partners and the communities they serve,” explained Bart Kaericher, President and CEO of Aramark Healthcare+. “These markets are more than just events focused on fresh food and other products; they’re morale boosters, wellness promoters, and community builders.”
Texas Health Resources HEB: Building Connections Through Fresh Food
At Texas Health Resources HEB, the concept came to life under the leadership of Simone Garnett, Retail Manager at Aramark Healthcare+. Only five months into her new role, Garnett organized her first farmers market at the hospital, setting the tone for what would soon become a cherished community event.
The inaugural market was filled with a wide variety of products: Texas-grown heirloom tomatoes, freshly baked sourdough bread, locally crafted olive oils, hatch queso, and even tropical fruits like pineapples. The market’s diversity reflected not only the abundance of local agriculture but also the multicultural tastes of the community it served.
“Our first farmer’s market was a great way to connect with the staff and guests to provide them with healthy, accessible food options,” said Garnett. “The market was a hit with our hospital community, and many asked for it to become a regular event. The enthusiasm it generated made the market a highly anticipated event. I am now planning a Fall Farmers Market event in October, and I know it is going to be just as exciting.”
By fostering a sense of connection and belonging, Garnett’s work highlights how food can create shared experiences that go well beyond the dinner table.
Blessing Hospital: From Fresh Produce to a Full-Scale Initiative
In Quincy, Illinois, Blessing Hospital took the farmers market concept to another level. Spearheaded by Elizabeth Lombardi, Director of Clinical Nutrition, the hospital launched its own market to give employees and the broader community access to affordable, healthy, and locally grown produce.
What started as a relatively simple idea has since expanded into a robust initiative. Today, Blessing Hospital’s farmers markets feature 20 to 25 vendors at each event. Alongside stands filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables, the markets include live cooking demonstrations, tables staffed by dietitians, and even holiday-themed events. The goal is to provide not just food, but education, inspiration, and fun.
Reflecting on the growth of the project, Lombardi said, “When we started the farmer’s market at Blessing Hospital, our goal was simple: make fresh, local produce more accessible to our staff and community. Over time, it grew into something much bigger, which inspired me to create a guide to help others do the same.”
That guide, Farmers Markets: A Guide to Getting Started, distills Lombardi’s experiences and best practices into a resource for other Aramark accounts. Her work ensures that hospitals across the country—not just those in the Healthcare+ line of business—can replicate the success of Blessing Hospital’s markets.
Endeavor Health: Creativity and Flavor in Every Market
Endeavor Health, a healthcare system in Illinois, has also embraced the farmers market concept with enthusiasm. Several of its partner hospitals hosted markets this past summer, beginning with Northwest Community Hospital. Partnering with local farms, the team tailored their offerings to the unique preferences of each community.
“From biscuits paired with apple butter to fresh-baked pies, each market is a showcase of creativity and local flavor,” said Brian Steward, System Executive Chef at Endeavor Health, Aramark Healthcare+. “Each account has been trying to outdo the others with variety and offerings.”
This friendly spirit of competition has resulted in markets that feel dynamic and surprising, offering everything from pantry staples to gourmet treats. For patients, staff, and visitors, these markets provide a reminder of the richness of local food culture—even in the middle of a clinical setting.
Boulder Community Health: Seasonal Flavors and Staff Appreciation
In Colorado, Boulder Community Health brought the idea to life with its first farmers market this past August. The timing made the event a perfect end-of-summer celebration, and the response from hospital staff was overwhelmingly positive.
Homemade sourdough bread was one of the first items to sell out, joined by chimichurri made by the hospital’s own Executive Chef, pumpkin cake slices, Palisade peaches, cherries, watermelon, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. All the produce came from four local Colorado farms, further strengthening the connection between the hospital and its surrounding agricultural community.
“The response was better than we could have hoped for, so much great feedback and appreciation from staff and visitors,” said Alaina Devenney-Copico, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Boulder Community Health. “It really reinforced how meaningful these kinds of events can be. We’re already excited and planning for our Fall Market, where we’ll bring in new seasonal favorites.”
More Than Markets: A Fresh Approach to Healthcare
Taken together, these examples illustrate how farmers markets have become much more than simple food events within hospitals. They are morale-boosting gatherings, educational opportunities, wellness initiatives, and celebrations of community all rolled into one.
By bringing local agriculture directly into healthcare environments, Aramark Healthcare+ is not only helping people eat better but also strengthening the human connections that are essential to healing and resilience. The presence of farm-fresh produce, homemade goods, and local vendors inside hospitals creates a unique atmosphere—one that reminds staff, patients, and visitors alike that wellness is holistic.
Whether it’s a staff member grabbing a loaf of bread on their lunch break, a patient’s family discovering locally grown peaches, or a visitor learning a new healthy recipe from a chef demonstration, these markets provide moments of joy and connection that go far beyond nutrition.
As Aramark Healthcare+ continues to expand its farmers market program across the country, it is setting a new standard for what hospitals can offer. The initiative underscores a simple but powerful truth: food has the ability to nourish both body and spirit, and when hospitals embrace that, they create spaces that truly support healing in every sense of the word.
