ROSSVILLE, Ga. (October 13, 2026) — Before a meal reaches the table, there is a farmer who planted, tended and harvested the food that makes it possible. This Farmers Day, Morning Pointe Senior Living is recognizing the people behind that work and the important role local agriculture plays in nourishing the communities it serves.
For older adults, meals are an important part of daily life. They offer nourishment, familiarity and opportunities to gather with others. The ingredients that go into those meals matter, too, which is why Morning Pointe emphasizes fresh, seasonal foods through its Farm-to-Table dining program.
At Morning Pointe at Happy Valley Campus, that commitment has a particularly close-to-home connection. Happy Valley Farms supplies seasonal produce and other products to the campus several days a week, including Tuesdays and Thursdays, giving the dining team access to ingredients grown nearby. The deliveries also offer a tangible reminder of the people and work behind the food residents enjoy.
“Having access to fresh, seasonal produce from a farm right here in our community is a wonderful opportunity for our residents,” said Justin Leiter, Director of Dining Operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living. “It allows us to incorporate locally grown ingredients into the meals we serve and helps connect the dining experience to what’s happening right here around us.”
For Farmer Bert Vdmerwe of Happy Valley Farms, supplying Morning Pointe means seeing the farm’s work reach people just down the road.
“Happy Valley Farms is proud to supply fresh, locally grown produce to our neighbors at Morning Pointe,” Vdmerwe said. “It’s rewarding to know that what we grow here on the farm is being enjoyed by their residents.”
The relationship is also part of the continuing revitalization of the Happy Valley property. Morning Pointe co-founder Greg A. Vital helped spur that effort, with a vision of giving the property renewed purpose while maintaining its connection to the surrounding community.
“Farmers play such an important role in our communities, and their work touches our lives in ways we may not always stop to consider,” Vital said. “Seeing locally grown food make its way to the tables at Morning Pointe is a meaningful example of how agriculture and senior living can come together. It reflects the kind of community connection we want to encourage as Happy Valley continues to grow and serve its neighbors.”
Happy Valley Farms owners Regina and Jim Anthony share that commitment to keeping the property connected to the community through agriculture and hospitality.
“Our mission toward combining agriculture and hospitality is a cornerstone of who we are at Happy Valley Farms,” the Anthonys said. “Providing seasonal produce to our community at large, as well as our wonderful neighbors at Morning Pointe, is a large and important part of our engagement strategy.”
Farmers Day is an opportunity to recognize the dedication behind the food that sustains families, businesses and communities. At Morning Pointe, that appreciation is reflected in the care that goes into residents’ meals and in relationships with local growers whose work helps bring fresh ingredients to the table.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Morning Pointe Senior Living, headquartered in Ooltewah, Tennessee, was founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in four southeastern states, including GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
