As you may have heard, there’s a movement growing, and it’s blooming here in our backyard! Our university community is starting a local farmer’s market, and it hopes to branch out and help foster healthy decision-making in our community. To dig up some dirt on the seed that became this idea, I have interviewed Dr. Daniel Drane and Dr. Farshad Marvasti.
From his shiny new office in the Student Government Room, Dr. Daniel Drane sat down with me to talk about this market, and Dr. Marvasti spoke with me over the phone.
So tell me about the motion to start the farmer’s market?
Dr. Drane: This idea started with Dr. Marvasti and the Culinary Medicine Student Interest Group. They wanted to create an opportunity to reach out into the community and use education to convey to the public how food can function as medicine. In addition to the two of us, Dr. Jason Kwan, a UofA Pharmacy alumni, was also instrumental in establishing the relationships with the different players to set up this market. Dr. Kwan knew many farmers and the members of the farmer’s market, and was crucial in setting up communication with that half of this project. My role was to set up the initial meeting between Dr. Marvasti, the Culinary Interest Group, and Dr. Kwan. Our plan is to host these on the second Tuesday of every month, and we have planned markets through May.
Dr. Marvasti: [This all sprouted] from the Culinary Medicine Interest Group. We wanted to help the community learn about the connection of health and food. Connecting with the local farm and increasing access to good, nutritious food is one of the most powerful ways to change health. We want to inform the public regarding the effects of prevention and effect on diseases outcomes. We first met when we needed to apply for funding the first events for the interest group. We wanted to talk about how food related to diabetes, and our group envisioned more robust activities for health and health education. A kitchen for students and the farmers’ market were considered. We also discussed plans to integrate into curriculum.
What role do you hope the market will fill in the community?
Dr. Drane: Reaching between our internal community and the external community of Phoenix as a whole is our goal. We want to promote community outreach, and we are so happy we can unite with STAR Impacts LLC (The Farmer’s Market company) and Wesley to create a unified health body. This is so exciting and new, and its formation was serendipitous.
Dr. Marvasti: Ultimately, I hope this will create awareness of the relationship between food and health. Diet is the number one risk for death in patients over the long-term, but we fight it with expensive, late treatments. Small changes in food now could save so much of our health. The average medical school has less than 19-hours of nutrition education. We want to be better and lead by example.
How do you think this will play into student health?
Dr. Drane: We want to engage in various topics and integrate with the coursework. We have plans to promote more student knowledge and access to healthy food.
Dr. Marvasti: As physicians, we can lead the charge when it comes to helping our patients improving their own health. However, due to our time limitations, we often make poor health decisions. What I want to do is show how choosing our food can improve our long-term health. Learning to cook and meal prep is important, and can facilitate cheaper, healthier outcomes.
How did you meet with the farmers?
Dr. Drane: We first started communicating in May of 2018, when we asked if this would even be possible. It took a lot of legal planning and contracts to negotiate, but once we had dotted the final lines, we only needed a month-and-a-half to get ready.
Are there any plans to expand further?
Dr. Drane: This is the petri dish to begin this movement. We want to expand into central Phoenix more, but this is the testing ground.
What did you buy from this market?
Dr. Drane: I tried to buy something from every vendor! I picked up some hot sauce that I am dying to try, got some basil to make bruschetta with, and I got a rice bowl for lunch!
Dr. Marvasti: I bought some elderberry syrup honey, ginger, and cinnamon. Did you know that there is some literature supporting these as a remedy for upper respiratory infections and pharyngitis? There is also anecdotal evidence that supporting elderberries as an anti-inflammatory. I am looking forwards to many more experiences.
How do your roles differ in the Farmer’s Market?
Dr. Drane: Dr. Marvasti is the educational lead. He informs the medical curriculum, and brings in Wesley by being their Chief Medical Officer. My duties involve administration and student health education through mental health awareness. By combining our areas of expertise, we want to use this market to create a fun and educational seed from which health sprouts.
Are you investigating the use of local media to expand?
Dr. Drane: In November, we are having talks with the local TV news stations to come and visit the marketplace.
Could you tell us of any of the surprises in store?
Dr. Drane: Well, now, that would ruin the surprise. We are excited to open our first full launch leading into Diabetes Awareness Month! Beyond that, you will have to check it out yourself!
Could you tell us about the highlights of the Diabetes Month and what you think the most important lesson is?
Dr. Marvasti: Sure. The most important thing that control of your diet does is it gives a patient three opportunities every day to choose to improve health. Diabetes is one of the most expensive chronic conditions in the American health. Teaching the community about how to make small changes can help to alleviate this health burden. I want to empower patients to make that active choice to be healthier three times a day. Food and diet is such an important part of the pathogenesis of diabetes, but it can be controlled. This market can help patients see how smart shopping and buying local can actually be a financially savvy investment. Taking care of the 80 million prediabetic patients in America can be done when we reach out and guide our patients to make the healthiest choices.
Thanks for taking time out of your day! When can we expect to see this Diabetes Awareness market?
Dr. Drane: No problem!
Dr. Marvasti: Of course! The next market is scheduled for November 13th, from 10am to 1:30 pm. See you there!
Mohammad Khan is a fourth-year medical student in The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Class of 2021. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2014 with two bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and biology. He then worked as a teacher and completed a Master's in biomedical diagnostics in 2017. For fun, Mohammad (who also goes by Mokha) likes to practice at the archery range, work on calligraphy, game, and fountain pen writing, and read science fiction novels. He is interested in medicine with a focus on educating patients.