Harlem Green Foods Festival

June 21, Marcus Garvey Park, New York – As we made our way through the already bustling Marcus Garvey Park and to our allotted space in the Green Foods Festival, we were welcomed by the sound of a trumpet whose rhythmic beats seemed to resonate with the mixed crowds of protestors, vendors, park goers, and children. We found our spot, abut to the children’s playground, and set up camp.

When Whole Foods had selected our product, PistachiOats®, to be featured at the Green Foods Festival, we were honored to be a part of such an important movement. The Green Foods Organization, like Sano Villa, is about supporting healthy living by educating people on the means to leading a healthy life. Aside from the dozen or so healthy food vendors that dotted the northern pathway of the Marcus Garvey Park, visitors had access to free Tai chi lessons in the park and were provided with a variety of literature on healthy living. It was a very supportive and welcoming environment, which is something the Harlem neighborhood is in search of. As we handed out snacks and informed visitors that our product is available at Whole Foods, a number of them responded with elation – “I love Whole Foods! I’m always there!” Unfortunately, many of our visitors wished a Whole Foods was in their area so that they could implement and sustain a healthier way of living.

The event was to last from 12-6pm. We set up our booth at 11:30am and immediately had people come up to us, interested in learning more about PistachiOats®. The response was so overwhelming that we handed out over 500 snack packs and coupons by only 3pm, which was the reason for our early departure (for all of you who just missed us!). We also had a small raffle in play for a free iPod shuffle. All one had to do was sign-in at our booth with their name or email address. We received hundreds of entries and will have our drawing at the end of July; the winner will be announced in our August 1 newsletter.

While the iPod was an incentive for some, the unique appeal of our product intrigued most. Many health-conscious people were excited to know about an all-natural cookie that was not only low in sugar, but also made with the very popular pistachio nut. We had dozens of people return to our booth complimenting our success on the great taste of PistachiOats®, especially kids! One young man, Sharif of Harlem (11 years old), came back to our booth asking for more, saying, “These are really good!”

Thanks to the Green Foods Organization, Whole Foods, and the awesome Harlem Community! We had a wonderful time sharing our special cookie with you all!