Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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“1. Stay active. Exercise may be the last thing you want to do when your arthritis hurts, but many studies show that physical activity is one of the best ways to improve your quality of life. 2. Eat a balanced diet. Studies show that a variety of nutrients may help ease arthritis symptoms. 3. Lose weight. Being overweight puts undue strain on weight-bearing joints such as your knees, spine, hips, ankles, and feet. 5. Use hot or cold packs. By increasing blood flow, hot compresses can ease pain and stiffness. 6. Keep pain under control. Over-the-counter medications can help ease arthritis pain. 7. Talk to your doctor about supplements and complementary medicine. Many supplements have been tested for the treatment of arthritis. 8. Try splints, braces, and other aids. Devices that support painful joints, such as splints, braces, and canes can help ease your discomfort and prevent injury. 9. Seek support. Living with arthritis isn’t easy. Finding other people that you can talk to and share ideas with can help. Check out arthritis support groups online or in your area. 10. Stay positive. Your mental outlook can have a big impact on how you feel, and how well you function. #SelfCare #Osteoarthritis #Arthritis #Disability #GoodHealth #PainRelief #SeniorCommunity #Caregiver #Caregiving #WECANHELP #OlderAdult #SeniorCare #SeniorLiving #SeniorServices #SeniorHousing #AlwaysBestCare #Exercise #SelfManaging #Tips”

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“Always Best Care has some of the friendliest staff. They are quick to learn & eager to assist. Great schedulers who are on top of managing the schedules & keeping their employees accountable. I sure appreciate all the help they give!”

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“I can leave a long review if I wanted to . I can talk about always best cares credentials and talk about mine. But What’s the point of leaving a review if it sounds like everybody else’s. The bottom line is , that they are great at their jobs from the bottom to the top. They have a process and people in place . They keep accountability and are communicative . Ive represented many companies in the past and still do till this day contract with only the best.. If you feel you want to hear more about this company on a deeper level just lmk. Happy Healthy Safe”

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“I like working for ABC because it works well with my busy nursing school schedule! I also like how I get to work on my own, but there are options to work with other CNAs for the care of some of the clients. It’s the best of both worlds! I’ve been with Always best care since 2021 and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the clients I work with!”

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“Love always best care ❤️”

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“Always Best Care is always best!!! Highly recommended! Brent listens and hears what we need for my 94 year old mom and matches caregivers accordingly. Sometimes, the schedule changes and he works to fill the needs immediately and always with a great attitude! The caregivers are compassionate. Again, I highly recommend Always Best Care.”

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“They are seriously so amazing to work with and really care for their clients. I came to them with some pretty difficult challenges that I was not sure we could work with but they were able to make it happen and truly did more than I thought was even possible. I highly recommend them.”

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“Love working for this company”

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“Love them! Staff is always super sweet and easy to work with! Highly recommend.”

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“As an employee of this company I could not ask for a better team to work with. They work with schedules, are understanding caring and all around amazing people. The clients are wonderful and have nothing but good things to say. They treat you as family and care from day one!”

Cassandra O.
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“Always Best Care has provided caregivers for my mother and now my father for the last year. They always send the best people to take care of them and give me peace of mind when I have to be at work. I highly recommend them if you’re seeking care for anyone in need.”

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“Alway best care! They are so giving and caring to their staff and clients❤️❤️❤️”

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“I've been using ABC for about 2 1/2 years and have really met some wonderful people and great caregivers. I know they all work hard and are experienced and dependable which is important to me. At times I've needed a flexible schedule and they've been able to accommodate my needs and been very friendly about it. At times I've also had to ask these caregivers to do things for me outside of their job description and they've been very accommodating. Brent is also been great to follow up with phone calls and help adjust my schedule when needed. I do recommend this company.”

Jim J.
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“The best home health company that I have ever worked for. Friendly office staff, great scheduler, and the kindest CNA’s and workers that I know.”

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“I work with Always Best Care and they're always flexible with my schedule. Everyone there is very nice and understanding and I enjoy working with ABC.”

Anna S.
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“Always Best Care has been an amazing company to work for! They are flexible with my schedule being a single mom and I can tell they are always putting their clients and the individuals that they care for, the needs and their happiness above all else. I know they care for every individual that they have and they make sure their staff are the same way!”

Aubrey S.
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“Always best is such an incredible company! They are so accommodating to all of the needs of their clients and do their best to help any way that they can. They are reliable and really seem to care. I would recommend Always Best to anyone looking for these kinds of services!”

Anni H.
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“Always best care has been warm and welcoming. They start off with a really good pay start and they also give really good hours and are very flexible with my work and school schedule. They are very kind even throughout my shifts they will sometimes ask me how my shifts went and make sure I’m doing ok and even through the holidays they send me messages or cards wishing me the best of holidays and always making me feel part of their family and business. And if I have any questions or concerns they are always supportive and always there for me I definitely recommend working hear and also I love working there my clients are all very nice and if you are ever looking for help always best care is the best place to call.”

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“I work for Always Best Care now and have for some time now. I love how much people care about their clients and how the company is always there if we need something or have questions about something. This is one of the best places I have worked in the last 6 years of being a CNA. I love that the clients are the top priority to not just me but the whole team as well.!”

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“Great company”

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“Always Best Care are the people to go to! Julie and Henry Lee are amazing people to work with!”

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“Very caring, and great to work with!”

Jeff S.
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“I have used this company for a few of my residents. They take such good care of their clients and do such a good job at taking the time with each and every one of them. They go above and beyond for their clients. I’d definitely recommend them!”

Kaylee N.
 In-Home Care Pleasant Grove, UT

How does In-home Senior Care in Pleasant Grove, UT work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Pleasant Grove, UT

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Pleasant Grove, UT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Pleasant Grove, UT gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Pleasant Grove, UT

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Pleasant Grove,UT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Pleasant Grove, UT

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

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An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

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Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Pleasant Grove, UT

Utah-developed musical 'different than any other' to debut in Pleasant Grove

Estimated read time: 9-10 minutesPLEASANT GROVE — Sixteen-year-old Kjersti Long has been writing music for years as a way of journaling and working through her depression."They've got all kinds of pieces of my life meshed into them," she said.When she was 12 years old, she sang one of her songs for her parents, and her father, Jeremy Long, was blown away by the song. He was also concerned about his daughter's mental well-being.He immediately rushed to help her, talked to her about what she was goin...

Estimated read time: 9-10 minutes

PLEASANT GROVE — Sixteen-year-old Kjersti Long has been writing music for years as a way of journaling and working through her depression.

"They've got all kinds of pieces of my life meshed into them," she said.

When she was 12 years old, she sang one of her songs for her parents, and her father, Jeremy Long, was blown away by the song. He was also concerned about his daughter's mental well-being.

He immediately rushed to help her, talked to her about what she was going through and got her into therapy. Kjersti's music was her way of communicating with her parents the struggles she was having.

Four years later, that song Kjersti wrote is part of the climax of a new musical debuting in Pleasant Grove for two weekends before it vies for a spot on Broadway.

"Relative Space: An Atypical Musical" is a rock concert mixed with a theatrical drama that showcases mental health and generational trauma on the stage. The musical will be performed six times at the Liahona Theater for the Community in Pleasant Grove on June 22-24 and June 29 through July 1.

All of the music for "Relative Space" was written by Kjersti and her father over several years, but none of the songs were written with the intent to use them in a musical.

Some of Kjersti's other songs made the cut for her pop music that's available on streaming services as part of her contract with Warner Records. Some songs weren't selected by the label, but she and her father felt they were still worthy of being heard.

The Longs connected with Broadway Records President Van Dean, who they knew from when they lived in New Jersey, and he told them the music could easily be the making of a musical.

"Because this music had come from so many times in our lives, we had never listened to it all the way through to realize it told a story. After (Dean) said that, we kind of had a little light bulb moment," Kjersti said.

Dean told the Longs they had to find someone to write the musical, because they couldn't let the music die.

Creating a 'different' musical

So, Long decided to develop a musical; and even though he had lots of connections with people in New York City, he wanted the musical to showcase Utah talent.

"I've been around the talent in Utah and it's insane. I knew we had great talent here, and I had a work opportunity back here (in Utah), so I said we're gonna do this in Utah," said Long, who became the producer for the musical.

With the help of his brothers, who are involved in Utah theater, Long reached out to playwright Melissa Leilani Larson, who Long describes as the "best playwright in Utah." Larson worked closely with Long to develop a story out of Kjersti's music that could work on the stage.

"What she has done to this show is just really special," Long said about Larson's writing. "The show is structured different than any other show that's ever been done on Broadway. Think of it more like a play and a rock concert happening at the same time."

Kjersti is fronting the rock band and singing her songs, but there's also "fantastic theater" going on simultaneously that she is not a part of, Long said.

The lead actors in the show are Liz Golden and Chase Grant, who are both well-known in the Utah theater community. The show also features other musicians, supporting actors and "movers" — or dancers — who are all very talented, Long said.

"Relative Space" features a twist, but Larson and Long didn't share any more details, as they want it to be a surprise for the audience.

"People are going to have to come see it. I think it's going to be really cool. I've been to so many shows; it's not like anything I've ever done or seen before," Larson said.

As the show was first being developed, Long didn't want it to all be focused on Kjersti, so they held auditions to find the perfect person for the lead singer. But the directors all agreed that Kjersti sang the music better because of her connection to the lyrics and the story.

"They came to me and said, 'We want you to sing it because you wrote it and we feel like you can express the emotion behind it.' And I was very excited," she said. "Emotions are a very hard thing, in our day and age, to grasp and to understand, and I hope that by listening to my music, (the audience) will gain some emotion they can feel and work through."

Kjersti said she is so happy she gets to perform her music live and share it in "such a creative and artsy way."

"I've never been surrounded by this many incredibly talented people. They're all so artistic and so cool, and it's a very growing environment," she said.

Long and Larson said most musicals have one or two songs that stand out among the soundtrack, and the music is typically developed after or simultaneously with the written story.

But since Kjersti's music was the inception of "Relative Space," the 10 songs all differentiate themselves and each is powerful in its own right, Long said.

"They're all bangers," Larson said.

Mental health and generational trauma

The music being developed first isn't the only thing that sets "Relative Space" apart. Other musicals such as "Next to Normal" and "Dear Evan Hansen" have touched on mental health, but this show gives an upfront, close and personal view of generational trauma and how mental illness affects families, Long said.

The musical follows a mother with depression and a daughter with anxiety who are floating through life separately, not talking to each other about their struggles. Throughout the show, they deal with the wall that has been built between them, and learn how events in the past are affecting both of their futures.

Kjersti's music is weaved into the story and details her own struggles of depression and mental health.

"Those threads are in the songs that this girl wrote when she was 12 and 13. She was very aware; I think of her as an old soul. She is thinking about these things in a much more adult way than most 13 year olds are thinking about them," Larson said. "The music lends itself really well to this mother-daughter dynamic, which I think is really relatable and that audiences are going to both enjoy and see themselves reflected in."

Rates of mental health issues in young girls have been increasing, Long said. As a father and husband, Long experienced it firsthand within his family and said it was hard on him seeing how it affected his daughter.

He said he has looked into research that shows certain people can be genetically predisposed to mental health issues.

"The only thing everybody has a consensus on, of a way to deal with this, is to have open, candid communication with people that love you," Long said. "And so that's what our show is about. I think we're gonna bring that out into the open."

Long said he didn't pull any punches with the musical, and pushed hard for the show to be as open and honest about mental health issues as possible.

He hopes it spurs conversation, and that family members who see the show will look at each other after and know it's OK to discuss and be more open about their challenges with each other.

"It's gonna be a tough thing for some to watch, but it's gonna be real," Long said. "I hope that people walk away from this show realizing that the safest place to talk about this stuff is with their loved ones. No matter how disconnected the generations seem at some time, there is still that love that is just there — and for the most part, you can have those conversations, and that's the safest place to do it."

Larson said she thinks some people who see the show will realize they are not alone in dealing with mental health challenges. She hopes the show will touch people and that they'll get what they need out of it on a "very personal and individual level."

"Mothers and daughters who might not have mental health issues but might not the best relationship, and they just need to learn to communicate. It's a family drama aside from everything we are dealing with," Larson said. "There are a lot of ways the music will speak to people, and there are moments, scenes that are going to speak to people."

Red carpet event

"Relative Space" started out as a fun side project that Long planned on filming and sending to New York. He didn't have high hopes, as most times shows developed in New York City with New York City talent take precedence over productions created elsewhere. Very few shows ever even begin the reading process to make it on Broadway, he said.

In mid-May, the music was leaked to some Broadway contacts Long knew, and the show blew up with buzz.

"It went all over. We started getting contacted by multi-Tony and Grammy award-winning producers left and right trying to get on board," Long said. "All of a sudden it went from we're just doing this fun thing, to 'Oh, crap, this is a big deal.'"

The show has already been scheduled for an industry reading in New York City in October, the first step to becoming a Broadway show. The crew is hosting a VIP Red Carpet Night on June 22 for opening night and Long said several Tony and Grammy award winners are planning on flying out to attend.

Long is excited that this show that has been completely developed in Utah with only Utah talent has the potential to make it big on Broadway.

"Everybody wants to be a part of something to say, 'I was there when that first came out, before it even went to New York,'" he said. "And in two years from now, it's on Broadway, they're gonna be like, 'I was there.' And that's a really cool thing."

Red carpet events rarely happen in Utah, so Long said the crew is "doing it the right way," by throwing a classy premiere with everyone "dressed up to the nines."

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As Utah urbanizes, fruit fests celebrate heritage rather than what’s grown here

There are more than a dozen festivals each year celebrating Utah’s agricultural industry. One of the longest running is Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove.The first celebration dates back to 1921 when the city was a ...

There are more than a dozen festivals each year celebrating Utah’s agricultural industry. One of the longest running is Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove.

The first celebration dates back to 1921 when the city was a big producer of strawberries. The annual event was organized by what was then known as the Wasatch Club to bring awareness to Pleasant Grove's strawberry market.

"It got bigger and bigger and went from a little evening celebration, now we're up to about a nine day celebration," said Strawberry Days committee chair Lisa Young.

Over a century later, the festival continues but the strawberry fields are gone largely due to urban development and population growth.

"Now we bid it out and we have to get those strawberries from California. And bless their hearts in those floods they had. But we're still getting enough strawberries."

Young said they typically go through 1,400 cases of the red berries during the event. Strawberries are still grown in Utah, but local production has gone down in the last 50 years.

"Across the Salt Lake and Utah valleys fruit and vegetable production has taken a hit due to urbanization in areas with viable and fertile farmland," said Bailee Woolstenhulme, spokesperson at the Utah Department of Food and Agriculture.

Utah's dry climate and the amount of labor needed to produce strawberries are other reasons for the decline.

"In the 60s and 70s and into the 80s a lot of the strawberry production was consolidated in climates where they could have a much longer growing season," said Brent Black, an extension fruit specialist and professor at Utah State University. "So now if you look at nationwide statistics, the Central Coast of California is a huge strawberry producing region. Florida, a big strawberry producing region, Oregon a little bit into Washington because they have a much longer growing season."

Black said development hasn't impacted strawberry producers as much as those who grow other fruits in the state.

"A lot of the development in Utah has happened in areas that were traditionally well-suited to fruit production. And that's what kind of hit the peach industry and raspberries and some of the other crops. I think with strawberries it's been more this kind of dominance of these optimum climates and labor that's kind of pushed it."

According to Black, tart cherries and apples are some of Utah’s biggest fruit crops.

Regardless of the volume of local production, Carol Edison, a retired state folklorist and co-editor of the book “This is the Plate,” said it's not so much about the food at these festivals. It’s more of a way to bring people together and honor the heritage of the community.

"Every year they [visitors] get to go back to the town mom grew up in or the town grandpa was from. And they often meet family, old friends, old neighbors, and they're part of something that's different from their daily life. And that's really the way these festivals function."

Perhaps the same can be said for Strawberry Days and its 102-year legacy as well as other food-themed festivals across Utah.

The 2023 Strawberry Days run June 10-18.

Locally-grown flower market opens in Pleasant Grove

Courtesy Julie HallWednesday marks the grand opening of the Utah Flower Market, a collaborative effort between 12 farmers to bring locally-grown flowers to the wider community. The market will run from April until October this year, it’s second in existence.Several years ago, a handful of flower farmers saw an opportunity to increase sales and exposure by working together and selling as a collective. They decided to recruit other growers and, ...

Courtesy Julie Hall

Wednesday marks the grand opening of the Utah Flower Market, a collaborative effort between 12 farmers to bring locally-grown flowers to the wider community. The market will run from April until October this year, it’s second in existence.

Several years ago, a handful of flower farmers saw an opportunity to increase sales and exposure by working together and selling as a collective. They decided to recruit other growers and, after receiving a grant and coaching from Rooted Farmers, the Utah Flower Market was born.

These farmers typically grow their flowers close to home, ranging from Mona to Kanab, and bring their products to Pleasant Grove every Wednesday. Experience amongst the flower farmers range from a few years to a lifetime of cultivating common and unique blooms.

Mollie Payne, of Foothill Farm Flowers in Provo, started the farm after her family relocated to Provo in 2018. In 2019, they added a flower garden and by 2020 the farm was selling bouquets in the Provo & Orem Farmers Markets.

“I’ve had my own flower farm since 2020. Our whole family is involved in the growing process. It’s amazing to watch the transformation of our yard as the season progresses. Watching a seed grow into a flower never gets old! It really is a special kind of magic,” Payne said.

Courtesy Julie Hall

The grower-owned market uses sustainable practices to produce high-quality flowers that, due to the changing seasons, vary in species each week. The market also has four farmers that grow specialty flowers including tulips, narcissus, sunflowers, ranunculus, dahlias, garden roses, cosmos, lisianthus, peonies, and more.

“You can’t help but feel good when you come to the Utah Flower Market,” said Julie Hall, president of the Utah Flower Market. Hall is owner and operator of Maple Bloom Flower Farm in Mapleton.

“It’s amazing to be surrounded by an abundance of flowers and to connect with the farmers and flower lovers who come to the market. When you shop the market you are supporting local farmers, small businesses, and local ecosystems. We know our customers feel really good about the flowers they take home and are excited to share them with their clients and the people they love,” Hall said.

Sara Asbridge is the only farmer in the market to come from outside Utah County. Willow Creek Flower and Herb is based in Mona, northeast Juab County.

“I’ve been growing commercially since 2016, but I have always grown flowers for enjoyment, starting when I was in 4-H as a young girl,” Asbridge said. “I enjoy the challenge of growing new and unusual varieties, as well as the beauty, peacefulness and joy that flowers bring. I love sharing that with others. I feel more grateful for each season and the unique beauty that it brings.”

The market is located at Grove Station in Pleasant Grove and is open every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. for wholesale shoppers and from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m for the general public. Customers can make custom bouquets at the flower bar or buy flowers in bundles of 10.

Annual Strawberry Days festival held in Pleasant Grove

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PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove is one of Utah’s longest-running festivals, dating back to 1921.

Festival chairwoman Lisa Young said it first started to celebrate the strawberry harvest in the city.

“Originally, it was like just an after-evening celebration after they finished their harvest and they had a little bit of an abundance,” said Young. “They were so excited because they did grow them here.”

Over a century later, the strawberry fields no longer grow in the area, but the festival still goes on.

Utah Department of Food and Agriculture spokeswoman Bailee Woolstenhulme said the once fertile farmland in the area has been changed by new homes and development.

“When you do have houses instead of farmland, those houses don't return flows into the nature like farming does,” she said, “And so probably the soils would be a little bit drier in the area.”

Young said this year, around 1,800 cases of strawberries for the event came from California.

Hundreds of volunteers work to prepare them for several events in the weeklong festival.

Young said it doesn’t matter where the strawberries come from, the core purpose of the festival— bringing the community together— has stayed the same.

“We hope and our goal always has been and our motto has always been that we unify the city and that's what we hope. It always does bring everybody back together,” she said.

American Sign Language event in Pleasant Grove hopes to bring awareness to resources

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PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — The Pleasant Grove "ASL in The Park" event brings families in touch with mentors, resources and other families to socialize and bring awareness to the importance of learning American Sign Language.

Hosted Wednesday mornings during the Summer by ASL interpreter and President of the non-profit organization About Love and Language Laura Blum, "ASL in The Park" was attended by Ariana Kennedy and her family, believing that events like these are not common enough.

“Often, families never meet a deaf person, their baby is the first deaf person they’ve ever met,” said Kennedy. “And they just don’t know what to do and how to communicate, so we go in, and teach them signs and show how they can communicate with deaf babies and we welcome them into the deaf community so they can meet all different kinds of people.”

For those families who struggle to learn American Sign Language for their children, Blum created a book to help make the process as easy and accessible as possible.

“I learned that families that were trying to learn sign language were so frustrated that they couldn’t share bedtime stories with their kids,” said Blum. “So I was really motivated that I wanted to make books that families that were new to sign language could sign.”

The books contain stories that are simple to sign for parents while containing a QR code to learn how to sign the book from a deaf mentor so that families don't feel overwhelmed.

“It pairs a number with an animal, that shares the same hand shape,” said Blum.

The books look like regular English baby books, but if you sign them, that’s what you can rhyme. These rhymes also make very similar hand gestures to make signing easier for families.

Stephanie Morgan, Parent Infant Program director at Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, says she hasn’t seen books like these before.

“Finding good books for families can be a little bit challenging," said Morgan. "We want families to feel comfortable so they can have that connection with their child."

If you want to get these books, you can find details on their website here.

If you want to join 'ASL in the park', contact Laura Blum at her email here.

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