Getting Down on the Organic Farm with Cancer Treatment Centers of America

How many cancer treatment centers can boast they have a Culinary Institute of America chef like Frank Caputo? Better still, how about an organic farm just out back of the hospital? Cancer Treatment Centers of America can. The Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear, Arizona has both. I got an up close look at the operation while at the CTCA Blogger Summit.

Bob McClendon, a former pharmacist-turned-organic farmer, is in charge of Hope Springs Organic Farm, a 25-acre spread. As you stand looking over the fields, you can see the neat rows of vegetables planted by son Sean. It's very much a family business. (Daughter-in-law Kate is also involved. She writes a nice blog on organic produce http://mcclendonsselectblog.com/ )

On the day I was there, Bob's grandson was riding his bike through the property, even as the GPS-equipped tractor was zipping along. The GPS helps Sean plant straight rows -- the McClendons take their organic farming very seriously. Every drop of water is monitored and utilized to prevent waste and to nurture the tenderest of vegetables under the hot Arizona sun.

Chef Frank Caputo is the real genius behind the farm. He pushed Bob to join the endeavor. From what I saw, it was well worth the effort. Frank was more than happy to offer a cheddar cauliflower to pass amongst the crowd. He also grabbed a handful of assorted greens, the very produce that would go into our buffet lunch.

What surprised me most about Hope Springs Organic Farm is the size of the operation, even in its early stages. When you look out of the rows of plantings and then you step into the dining room, you don't have to worry about how long the vegetables have been stalled on a loading dock in some warehouse. This is freshness at its peak. Visitors are welcome to walk over to the farm, and when we were there, I saw folks do just that.

The lunch we were served was impressive, from the grilled cauliflower to the Swiss chard salad to the healthy smoothies. Clearly Frank Caputo and his team work hard to make sure patients, staff, and visitors eat well.

Just to be sure, I took a tour of the "food court". I wanted to see how other people were reacting to the offerings. At a large salad bar well stocked with choices, a young boy of about ten loaded his plate. (As a salad affectionado, I can attest to the fact that the salad bar meets with my approval.) He clearly had eaten here before, because he was determined to get "the good stuff". The number of food stations and choices was impressive. A number of staff members and patients were ordering specific items.

What I loved best? One of my fellow bloggers (currently a patient at the hospital) can't digest certain foods while she's undergoing cancer treatment. Frank's right-hand man brought out platters of steak and chicken to make sure she had the proper nutrition.

One of the toughest things for cancer patients in treatment can be the nutritional issues. Food can be a struggle to get down. That's where Director of Nutrition Sharon Day comes into the picture. She works with patients and their family caregivers to offer choices at the hospital and at home that will meet with the patient's palate and ability to handle the heavy lifting. The truth is not everyone has Chef Frank Caputo's skills. Sharon is more than happy to offer recipes, tips, and ideas for the amateur and the experienced. She helps adjust the diet to accommodate the medications used and the patient's ability to swallow, to digest, and to take in enough calories to handle cancer treatment. One of the biggest issues for cancer patients is getting the right nutrition that will enable cancer treatment to work effectively. That puts her on the front line of every patient's medical regimen at CTCA.

The attention to detail at CTCA is very impressive from what I've seen so far. I'm comparing it to other cancer treatment facilities I've experienced as a caregiver and as an educator. But I think it's the staff that stands out the most. People really do seem to enjoy their work, right down to the sweet young woman in the ladies room, who cheerfully answered our questions about a lotion dispenser on the wall. This is very much a "people place". It's not going to change the fact that cancer is cancer, but it could help you endure cancer treatment in a much more pleasant atmosphere.