State Funded Greenmarket to Open in the Bronx
Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, and Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz announced New York State would be investing $15 million to build The Greenmarket Regional Food Hub in Hunts Point, Bronx. The hub will help New Yorkers in low-income areas gain better access to local produce and promote business for smaller, family-owned state farms. Greenmarket Co. has already made $2.2 million for New York State farms by providing local produce to underserved areas of New York City. The hub will be Greenmarket's next major step in their mission and success. By supporting the New York State Grown & Certified program, Greenmarket will be providing a much larger amount of healthy local fruits and vegetables to New York City neighborhoods that until this point simply did not have the option.
“Currently, low-income communities throughout New York City lack access to fresh, healthy foods and small to mid-sized New York state farmers cannot fairly compete with industrial sized farms from the west coast and beyond,”
says GrowNYC President/CEO, Marcel Van Ooyen. “We are extremely thankful to Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Ball, Bronx Borough President Diaz and Empire State Development for recognizing the importance of connecting upstate growers with city residents and providing the support and funding to help build the Greenmarket Regional Food Hub. This hub will help bring fresh, healthy New York State products into more city neighborhoods and put more money directly into the pockets of our state’s family farmers.”
The space for the New York State Greenmarket Food Hub is 75,000 square feet and will include a refrigerated area for local business and farms, a food processing area, and a distribution center. Furthermore, The giant space will provide 150 jobs during construction and 90 new living-wage jobs once the market is open. All with a focus on hiring local Bronx residents and paving the way to a fresh start and brighter future for NYC health and New York State agriculture.
GrowNYC is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that helps residents make ours the most sustainable city in the world. Reaching millions every year, GrowNYC operates Greenmarket farmers markets, engages New Yorkers in recycling education, builds and maintains green spaces and provides young people hands on environmental education. Learn more at www.grownyc.org.
