Now that summer is in full swing, new fresh produce options are popping up on the Lower East Side.
You may have noticed that Rachel Mae’s Farmstand, which used to be located inside the Hester Street Fair, has moved street-side. On Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. you can find a selection of locally-grown fruits and vegetables in front of 19 Essex St. (the storefront is a Jewish-run business closed for the Sabbath). This past weekend, the bounty included strawberries, blueberries, asparagus and an assortment of leafy greens.
Beginning July 9, Gouverneur Health will be hosting a weekly Youthmarket on Thursdays from noon-5 p.m. Youth market is a branch of Grow NYC (the city’s green market program), which gets young people from under-served communities to help run the produce stands. EBT/Food Stamps, Debit/Credit, and WIC & FMNP Coupons are accepted. The Gouverneur market will be set up on Madison Street between Clinton and Jefferson streets.
Also on Thursdays, a Youthmarket location will be available again this year in front of the Abrons Art Center on Grand Street. The hours there are 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council in partnership with GrowNYC, has been running The Fresh Food Box Program in 275 Cherry Street. From now until November, we are distributing low-cost Spring Fresh Food Boxes containing fresh and healthy produce. Customers pre-order bags one week in advance on the designated distribution day, and the next week pick up their order containing 5-8 seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as information on how to store and prepare the produce that they will receive. Customers can pay in cash, credit/debit, and EBT/SNAP benefits. Each bag costs only $12 and contains 5-8 varieties of produce. Contact michael@twobridges.org | 212-566-2729 for more information.