Plantree Award:

     New Milford Hospital has earned two national awards for its innovation and leadership in promoting wellness and prevention to help patients and community residents eat healthier foods. The first award, the 2009 Spirit of Planetree Award, recognizes the Hospital's patient-centered approach to providing care in the category of Nutritional and Nurturing Aspects of Food. Planetree President Susan B. Frampton presented the honor at the Fall 2009 Planetree Annual Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, to Marydale DeBor, Vice President for External Affairs, and Kerry Gold, Manager, Dining Services, at a special ceremony attended by Planetree members from across the globe.

The award commemorates the transformation of our dining service to use fresh, healthy foods – some from local farms – with our partner, Unidine Corporation. It also highlights our efforts to educate local youth about nutrition, farming, the environment and the economy through our award-winning community outreach initiative known as Plow to Plate®, which advocates for regionally grown foods and farms.

The second award, the Glynwood "Good Food for Health" Harvest Award also recognizes the Hospital-led PLOW TO PLATE® coalition and Unidine Corporation, which have collaborated to set a standard in the sustainable food movement for Northwest Connecticut.

Glynwood Award:

     Glynwood, the not-for-profit organization whose mission is to save farming in the Northeast, created the Harvest Awards seven years ago in order to highlight innovative work being done to increase access to fresh, locally-produced food and to recognize leaders across the country who support regional agricultural systems.

Marydale DeBor, former Vice President for External Affairs at the Hospital who co-founded Plow to Plate with Medical Advisor Diane D'Isidori, MD, and Chef Ann Gallagher explained, "We are inspired by the great commitment to farming in our region and for like-minded individuals and organizations who are working to change the way we choose and prepare foods for ourselves and our families. Working with Unidine, a fresh food company and leader in institutional dining services, our focus has been to help patients enjoy fresh and locally grown food to increase their satisfaction and their health, and to educate our employees and the community about the importance of healthy food and food preparation in maintaining their health."