Fresh produce straight from New York farms is making its way to Bronx families under a new partnership between GrowNYC, the Graham Windham O.U.R. Place Family Enrichment Center and The Point CDC.
On Nov. 6, the community organizations, which share a building on Garrison Avenue in Hunts Point, gave out hundreds of bags of onions, potatoes, leafy greens, celery, squash, eggs and carrots — while demonstrating some creative ways to use the ingredients.
The new partnership and twice-monthly distributions come at a time when many local families are going hungry, and many local farms are struggling. Data from the USDA shows that 3,000 New York farms closed between 2017 and 2022 — and at the same time, Bronx County has the state’s highest rate of food insecurity.
The family center and The Point CDC have always had some kind of food distribution — but the partnership with GrowNYC allows them to serve more residents while benefitting minority-owned New York farms in the process.
Under the arrangement, farmers get paid via a federal grant — their food is not donated — and the state’s “New York Food for New York Families” program partners in turn with community groups to distribute fresh, high-quality produce, said Marcel Van Ooyen, president and CEO of GrowNYC.
The food that arrives in the Bronx is the same that goes to the Union Square farmers market and high-end restaurants like Gramercy Tavern, said Van Ooyen. And farmers love the mission behind the partnership. “They’re so excited to have their food go to communities like this,” he said.
Ironically, though the largest produce market in the world is less than a mile away, most of that food ends up feeding the rest of the region — leaving the Bronx with leftovers and pollution, said Dariella Rodriguez, director of community development for The Point CDC.
At many food distributions, the demand is so high that many people wait in line for hours, said Rodriguez. The Point CDC uses a registration system to ensure that residents don’t waste time or risk their health and can instead come at a scheduled time to pick up their items, she said. The process also ensures that the food goes only to people in the community.
Over 150 people came to the Nov. 6 distribution, with dozens more bags ready to be picked up by people coming for regular programming or delivered around the neighborhood to those who couldn’t make it.
Next door at the Family Enrichment Center, residents gathered for a cooking demonstration by local community members, who used the center’s fully equipped kitchen to make a juice of carrots, ginger and lemon and a whole wheat pasta salad with veggies and chicken. Residents tasted samples, took copies of the recipes in English and Spanish, received Health Bucks that can be redeemed at local produce markets and took home large bags of produce.
“Now they can stretch their money,” said Director Yvette Borbon.
The center will rotate through a group of community cooks who are licensed in food handling and ready to share a variety of recipes showcasing different cultures and techniques, said Borbon. Inspired by the farmers who send their food, Borbon said she would also love to teach ways for people to grow their own, such as hydroponic gardening, which roots plants in water instead of soil.
“We always start small but dream big,” said Borbon.
As both The Point CDC and the Graham Windham Center work to feed residents, they also tackle the bigger issues.
Rodriguez said her organization works year-round on systemic issues surrounding environmental and food justice, and while food insecurity is a mounting problem, their volunteers, partners and community connections stand at the ready for both short- and long-term fixes.
“We’re never going to solve hunger with a pantry,” said Rodriguez. “But people need to eat now.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
