The only job Jessica O’Dell takes more seriously than her role as produce manager at Foodtown of Cold Spring is being a mother of four. But if you ask her, running her family and her department have very similar approaches. “The way I work is how I run my family. We work together. Teamwork is big in all aspects of my life,” she says. Jessica exemplifies this concept by taking the approach that there’s nothing she expects of her team that she wouldn’t expect of herself. “As a manager, you don’t bark orders. Everyone does the dirtiest jobs and the best jobs,” she says. It’s helped create a cohesive team structure that breeds communication and accountability. Foodtown of Cold Spring is different than other stores, and not just because of their great employees or top-of-the line brands. In most stores, meat is the biggest seller. Well, in Foodtown of Cold Spring, it’s all about vegetables. It’s not uncommon for produce to account for 20 percent of the store’s revenue. “We’re in a real health- conscious town. [Our customers] only like the freshest produce,” explains Jessica. Jessica is known for finding the best local growers and keeping her store full of the highest-quality produce. “We get heirloom tomatoes from Four Winds Farm. They are the best tomatoes I’ve ever seen. People will drive hours just to get them.” As Jessica explains it, it’s important for her customers to know the exact farm their FOODTOWN’S PRODUCE GURU Meet Jessica O’Dell
Lay Some Shade on Me The Best Vegetables to Plant in Shady Spots There’s nothing quite like growing your own vegetables, but if your home doesn’t get the best sunlight, what can you do? It’s a problem many gardeners face. Even if you live in a sunny area, you may have a shady corner of the garden or side of the house going to waste. Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that do well in partial and full shade. As a general rule, leafy greens do better in shade and milder temperatures than other vegetables. Flowering plants and vines, such as cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes, need more hours of sunlight per day in order to thrive — about six hours or more. Herbs . While many herbs, such as basil, are better suited for sunnier conditions, there are a few that will do great in shade. These include chives, cilantro, golden marjoram, mint, oregano, and parsley. (Hours of sun per day: 3) Kale . Typically, kale does well in partial shade. When kale is grown in full shade, the leaves tend to be slightly smaller, but this can be offset by growing additional plants. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4) Peas . Like kale, when grown in shade, peas and beans won’t grow quite as full, and plants may take longer to mature, but with proper planning, you’ll still reap a plentiful harvest. Bush and dwarf varieties are recommended over their pole counterparts. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) Potatoes . Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, and beets, will grow in partial shade, but they may take a few more weeks to mature, and they may produce fewer vegetables. However, as most gardeners agree, the results are still worth the effort. (Hours of sun per day: 4–5) Spinach . Like most leafy greens, spinach does very well in shade, particularly baby spinach. The plant will continue to produce leaves for an extended period of time if you regularly harvest the outer leaves. (Hours of sun per day: 3–4)
food came from. “If we put the local tag on produce, our customers will ask where we got it,” she says.
We value the families of our employees because we believe everyone deserves a healthy life. “It’s not work to me anymore,” she says. “Paul, our store manager, is like my second dad. We’re family here.” She goes on to explain it doesn’t stop with Paul. “We’re not your average chain store. The owners will greet you when you come in the door and ask about your kids.”
We’re very fortunate for all of our Foodtown teammates and especially thankful to have someone as
wonderful as Jessica in our Foodtown family. Stop by the produce section of Foodtown of Cold Spring today and find out for yourself.
Want free groceries? Simply use your club card to earn points. Then grab the Free Items sheet at the register and redeem your points for free groceries. It's that simple. *Available at the store location on the back of this newsletter. FREE GROCERIES — REALLY!
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