Black History Month: Creating Healthy Food Environments in the Bronx

 

Shen’naque Sean Butler and Francisco Marte, Founder of Bodega and Small Business Group

This article was written by Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager at Bronx Health REACH, Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director at Bronx Health REACH, and Bronx Health REACH Coalition member Shen’naque Sean Butler.

 

African Americans have faced injustices in the food system ever since the days of enslavement, when Africans brought to America lost the food sovereignty they had in their native lands, and as slaves, were forced to subsist on meager food rations of poor dietary quality such as pig intestines, lard and cornmeal. But resistance to these injustices has existed for just as long, with enslaved people cultivating crops from Africa such as okra, yams, black-eyed peas, and creating dishes using ingredients that were native to Africa when they could.

Fannie Lou Hamer’s founding of the Freedom Farm Cooperative in 1967 as a rural economic development and political organizing project was a later action in the Black food justice movement. The Freedom Farm Cooperative sought to uplift Black families through food provisions, such as vegetable gardens and pig-raising, and through community support for housing development and education. By providing food and financial services, the Cooperative allowed Black families to be self-sufficient. This Cooperative is seen by many as a foundation for the modern food security and food justice movements.

In the Bronx, a leader that continued this fight for food justice is Karen Washington, a Black urban farmer, and co-founder of the Black Farmer Fund. A James Beard 2014 Leadership Award Honoree, she worked to dismantle what she so aptly termed “food apartheid” in Black communities.

Recognizing the historical injustices and the power of grassroots community advocacy to address those injustices, Bronx Health REACH, since its inception, has been working with community partners to advance food justice. This has been done through efforts such as encouraging policy makers and elected officials to increase access to affordable fresh produce at farmers markets, promoting farmers and farmers markets to community members, and supporting faith-based organizations’ establishment of gardens.

For more than a decade, Bronx Health REACH has been involved in supporting local business owners selling healthy food, collaborating with the Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG) to train bodega owners to sell healthier food, and promoting those healthier options through the creation of the “Don’t Stress, Eat Fresh” consumer campaign. In 2019, Bronx Health REACH supported Bronx community member and food justice advocate Shen’naque Sean Butler to implement his vision for a healthy bodega initiative.

Shen’naque Sean Butler’s family migrated from Savannah, Georgia, to New York during the Great Migration, seeking economic opportunities and escaping racial violence. Unfortunately, the racial injustices they sought to escape followed them in one form or the other, one of which was redlining—a government policy that systematically removed resources from Black communities. Redlining has had a lasting impact, contributing to the creation of food deserts in areas like the Bronx, where access to fresh and affordable food is severely limited.

 

As a descendant of American chattel slavery, Shen’naque Sean Butler carries not only the legacy of pain but also the resilience of his ancestors. In 2019, inspired by his late mother, Jocelyn Butler, Shen’naque founded FRESCH (Food Revolution Empowering Sustainable Community Health), to address food insecurity and promote healthier eating habits in the Bronx by connecting local food systems. He implemented a pilot group purchasing model where healthy grab-and-go food items were sold at bodegas for customers to purchase at affordable prices. This initiative included bodegas both within and outside the BSBG network.

The initiative delivers plant-based meals to local bodegas, providing nutritious options in areas where fresh food is scarce. FRESCH also hosts workshops and seminars to educate the community about healthy eating and advocates for policy changes to improve food transparency and marketing practices.

In 2024, building on FRESCH and the previous work with BSBG, Bronx Health REACH received funding from the New York Health Foundation to collaborate with BSBG, Collective Fare, Shen’naque Sean Butler, and others to pilot a sustainable business model for bodegas to sell healthy, culturally relevant grab-and-go items, in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx.

The effort to establish a healthy food retail environment with culturally relevant, affordable options for communities of color has continued, gaining momentum to counter the injustices that have gotten worse in the food system over the past several decades. Dr. Marcia Chatelain, a professor of African American history and author of the book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America explains an association between the food retail environment and being “Black.” Dr. Chatelain points out that in the 1960’s, the federal government, through a series of efforts, encouraged the creation of Black businesses as an opportunity to build wealth and create badly needed jobs.  During this time, the fast food industry lobbied government and convinced civil rights organizations that fast food franchising could be good for building Black wealth. Yet, the low-wage jobs created through the franchising model, coupled with the creation of unhealthy food environments in Black communities, turned out to have detrimental economic and health consequences in these communities. Exacerbating the problem was the practice of many food companies associating Black culture with their industrialized food through targeted predatory marketing of fast food and other unhealthy food products. This has had disastrous effects on the health of consumers, with disproportionate impacts especially seen in Black communities.

Despite all of this, the movement that has long embraced the narrative of cultural pride focused on an entrepreneurial model of building Black owned food businesses promoting healthy food, establishing a new cadre of Black farmers, and farmers markets, and securing new retail outlets for those foods continues. The goal of such a movement is still to improve the health and lives of Black communities.

Bronx Health REACH 2024 in Pictures

 

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Bronx Health REACH and 25 years of our commitment to making health equity in the Bronx a reality. What has sustained, motivated and emboldened us to do this work over 25 years? The community. Bronx Health REACH is first and foremost, a community coalition.

We are thankful and appreciative of our partners, allies and staff who have been critical to this work and all that makes this possible. Many thanks to the following who have generously provided funding for our work:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Initiative

• CDC – COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Initiative

• Health Resources and Services Administration - COVID-19 Bridge Funding

• New York State Department of Health's Creating Healthy Schools & Communities Initiative

• New York State Department of Health/National Association of Chronic Disease Directors - Building Resilient & Inclusive Communities

• New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

• NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene 

• New York Health Foundation

• New York City Council (Immigrant Health)

• The NYC Civic Engagement Commission

• National Institutes of Health/NYC Community Engagement Alliance (NYCEAL) To End Covid-19 Disparities

• The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)/Natl Institute of Food and Agriculture

• Silicon Valley Foundation

Bronx Health REACH 2024 Initiatives

Bible Church of Christ, Every Day is a Miracle, Manna of Life Ministries and Thorpe Family Residence Nazareth Housing implemented Healthy Pantry Initiative strategies to increase access to healthier foods. 

 

A series of Healthy Pantry Initiative Training videos were created to promote healthy food choices and cultural food preferences for our food pantry partners. Bronx Health REACH partnered with The CUNY Food Policy Institute to assess the quality of the foods in the three cafes at the Lehman College campus.

11 sites participated in the Health Bucks Best Practices Training and received Health Bucks (HB) coupons. They distributed 5,900 HB coupons with an average redemption rate of 83.14% and led 27 farmers’ market tours with 270 participants.

The Food as Medicine Produce Prescription Program, in collaboration with Corbin Hill Food Project, had 69 distributions with 53 participants picking up 2,346 shares, and hosted 28 food demonstrations.

9 bodegas will participate in selling healthy grab-and-go items as Bronx Health REACH received funding from the NY Health Foundation to pilot a healthy bodega initiative in partnership with the Bodega and Small Business Group, Collective Fare, and others.

 

The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) Coalition worked to pass the Good Food NY Bill. Bronx Health REACH endorsed INT 641, a NYC Council bill requiring that at least two meals on restaurant children’s menus meet certain nutrition standards. Several Bronx Health REACH partners provided testimony during a NYC Council Health Committee meeting in December. 

BHR partnered with Morrisania WIC to host 8 monthly Lactation Discussion sessions with 71 individuals attending. NY Presbyterian, BronxCare, Lincoln Hospital, Albert Einstein, Jacobi, and Montefiore referred 50 individuals to the Baby Café. 27 breastfeeding moms, along with their families and children participated in a Mothers Breastfeeding Fashion show in June. 

Six doulas were trained and completed surveys on how to educate pregnant and breastfeeding women about vaccines.

BHR partnered with Bronx River Alliance advocating for safer entry to the Bronx River Greenway from  E Tremont/E 177th Street by collecting 263 signatures, exceeding their original goal of 125 signatures. The Bronx River Open House at Starlight Park kicked off their program season in April, bringing in over 1000 community members to Starlight Park.

Transportation Alternatives completed walk audits and made recommendations to the NYC Dept of Transportation for improvement of the Grand Concourse Phase 5. They include: improving bike lane markings, bollards for raised bike lanes, raised crosswalks and speed bumps. 

Equity Design, BronxWorks, Greater Faith Cathedral, Bible Christ Church, and Christian Bible Temple completed the Active Communities Tool Assessment, a walk audit, and held a number of town hall meeting to identify complete street redesign projects that will lead to more pedestrian-friendly routes and increased physical activity.

PS18 hosted 7 open streets programs and held their 2nd annual bike fest; PS32 hosted 10 Open Street programs;  PS/MS5 hosted 7 open streets programs and; PS59, a new school partner, hosted 2 events.  

NY State Division of Criminal Justice Service provided funding for CS300 to build a school garden. CS300, Bronx Health REACH, the Mary Mitchell Center and the NY Botanical Garden collaborated with students and teachers to build 8 garden beds, planting vegetables and herbs.

2024 marked the return of Boogie on the Boulevard as a live, in person event that, for the first time, was officially part of the NYC DOT’s Summer Streets program. 21 organizations participated in immersing the public in fitness programs, art, music, and more.

In partnership with Bronx Health REACH and Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC, MARC Academy and Family Center provided nutrition and physical activity training to 15 home-based childcare providers.

For our Flu and COVID-19 vaccination Initiative, BHR hosted 15 vaccines events where 240 flu vaccinations and 161 COVID vaccinations were given, distributed 13,960 handouts; gave 26 presentations to 1,028 people; and hosted 8 partner training events for 79 people.

The BHR Health Disparities Workgroup designated April as #Not62 month and appeared on the Bronxnet show, Stay Alive with Church Alive. In May, "Creation of a Movement: #Not62 Campaign for a Healthier Bronx" was showcased at the Institute for Family Health's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. In October, Eve Plotka attended the RWJF Culture of Health Prize Alumni lunch with other #Not62 steering committee members from Montefiore and the NYC Department of Health.

BHR worked with Dr. Roger Ball to bring in experts, resources and materials to better understand the problems being addressed by the BHR Health Disparities Workgroup to develop goals focused on #Not62 - The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx.

For our Immigrant Health Initiative, our Bronx Health REACH Community Health Outreach Team of Joseph Ellis, Cheikhou Ann and Felix Rojas, completed 73 outreach events, made 130 patient referrals, and participated in 6 podcasts.

October 2024 marked two years of ‘Men Let’s Talk,’ a forum for Black and Latino men to engage in open and honest discussions about concerns regarding their mental and/or sexual health and wellbeing. To date, 323 people have participated in discussions on a variety of topics listed above. 

BHR showcased projects at IFH's 12th Annual Research and Innovation Symposium. Presentations included: “Food as Medicine: Designing and Implementing a Produce Prescription Program at Federally Qualified Health Centers"; "Doula and Perinatal Care Navigator's Impact on COVID19 and Flu Vaccine Decision Making in Bronx Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women"; “Immigrant Health Initiative - Efforts to Support Underserved Immigrant Groups by Improving their Access to Health Care." In October, Cheikhou Oumar Ann, Felix Rojas and Joseph Ellis were recognized for their outstanding work during NYCDOHMH’s Harlem Family Wellness Suite Day for Dads event.

Food as Medicine: A “Prescription” for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

 

This article was written by Kenny Escobar, Nutrition & Physical Activity Coordinator, Jamila Outlar, Produce Prescription Coordinator, and Intern Stephanie Garcia.

In the winter of 2023, Bronx Health REACH and Corbin Hill Food Project Inc. (CHFP) launched the Food as Medicine Produce Prescription Program (FAM) for patients at three Bronx-based Institute for Family Health (IFH) centers to promote the consumption of healthy food.

The FAM project is funded by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the USDA.  Project participants must be an IFH patient over 18 years of age and screen positive for food insecurity. Once enrolled, participants receive a box of high quality, fresh local fruits and vegetables on a bi-weekly basis for a minimum of six months. The average price for the box of produce is roughly $35 but through FAM the cost to patients is only $2.50. The participants can pay with SNAP, cash, debit, or credit card. Participants who have SNAP can also pay with Health Bucks.

The FAM project also provides participants with recipes at each distribution in order to encourage the eating of fruits and vegetables. These recipes include creative and helpful ways to use the produce from that week’s distribution. Food demonstrations accompany the distribution of the recipes at least once a month at each health center introducing participants to  fruits and vegetables they may not have known or previously eaten. 

Chef Yadi leading a food demonstration. 

Bronx native Chef Yadira Garcia, also known as, the “Happy Healthy Latina” or Chef Yadi, is the chef enthusiastically creating delicious and nutritious dishes for patients to try. She makes sure that patients are educated on the multiple ways to prepare the different produce and is always open to answering any questions that the participants may have. 

As of February 2024, when enrollment ended, 374 patients were enrolled in the program and 130 have completed their 6-month commitment. We will conduct a program evaluation to assess patients’ overall opinions and feedback of the program to determine the effectiveness of this intervention and the impact it has had on the participants. To date feedback from some participants indicate that the program, for them, is a resounding success. An Urban Horizons patient shared that they are “very happy as a lot of us need this program, we get healthy food and we need this in the neighborhood. You’re doing a very good thing for us." A Stevenson patient said she “enjoys this program so much as I am learning how to cook and eat different things.” A patient from Walton stated, “by receiving these produce box two times a month, I am able to eat healthier which is contributing to my weight loss.”

Farm Share Program Wraps Up Successful Season at Two Community Health Centers

This post was written by Milagros Neyra, Community Health Project Manager.

The Bronx Health REACH/Corbin Hill Farm Share Program wrapped up a successful season with over 500 bags of fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables distributed to Mt. Hope, Morris Heights, and Soundview residents. While the Farm Share site at the Institute for Family Health’s (IFH) Stevenson Family Health Center continued for a second year, IFH’s Walton Family Health Center debuted as a new, second location for the Farm Share program.

The summer Farm Share season ran from July to November 2019. Participants picked up their bags, consisting of five to seven vegetables and one fruit, at the Walton Family Health Center on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, and Stevenson participants picked up their bags on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. From its inception, the Farm Share program was designed to give the neighborhood residents access to affordable, locally grown fresh produce. Recipes were provided so customers would have creative ways to prepare their vegetables at home. Cooking demonstrations, led by community chefs and supported by the Corbin Hill Food Project, were held at the locations allowing customers to taste test recipes using the vegetables.

“Having the Farm Share program at the Walton Family Health Center brought our patients, community members, and staff together for a common goal: to be able to purchase affordable, fresh produce, that is otherwise difficult to access in this community,” said Marlin Morel, Farm Share site coordinator for the Walton Family Health Center. “As a Health Coach, my goal is to teach our patients that food is the best medicine, and eating a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods is instrumental in their journey to better health.”

To participate in the program, patients, staff, and community members can sign up onsite or online at any time. By placing an order at least one week in advance of the pick-up date, participants can enjoy high quality and locally grown produce delivered to their health centers. “I'm so grateful that this program was in our neighborhood. Health statistics for the Bronx are very devastating and we desperately need this type of program, as well as the cooking and education about the right things to eat,” said Veronica Millender, a resident of Castle Hill for 43 years and a Farm Share program participant since 2018. “Having the Farm Share year round would mean more healthy residents and less chronic conditions. The big picture is the Bronx having healthier residents who are eating well and can afford to buy fresh produce for their families.”

Participants purchased the produce using cash, credit, debit, EBT/SNAP and Health Bucks. The affordable prices and flexibility of payment options, makes the Farm Share program accessible for all to purchase foods that may have been previously unattainable. The Winter Farm Share Season is scheduled to begin mid-January at the Stevenson and Walton locations. The Winter Farm Share Season begins January 14th at the Walton Family Health Center and January 21st at the Stevenson Family Health Center. If you would like to participate, you can order online or email Mila Neyra, Community Health Project Manager at mineyra@institute.org, or call (212) 633-0800 ext. 1224.

Bronx Health REACH and Elected Officials

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) held a community town hall on City Island. 

On Saturday, June 29th, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a community town hall at P.S. 175 on City Island, and Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock and Kelly Moltzen joined 200 other people to hear what the Congresswoman is doing to address issues facing Bronx residents. She spoke about some of the ideas she has been championing: the Green New Deal, single payer healthcare and making healthy food more affordable.

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez pointed out how the Parkchester farmers market is only open a few months out of the year, compared to other farmers markets in the city that operate year-round. She said that local residents should be encouraged to grow their own food. Charmaine had a chance to ask Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez what she is doing to address the fact that the Bronx is ranked 62 out of 62 in all New York State counties in terms of health outcomes and health factors. Charmaine followed up her first question by also asking the Congresswoman, how is she prioritizing the Bronx in light of that standing.

PIX11 was at the town hall and interviewed Charmaine.

Left to right: BronxWorks Marina Smith; Council Member Diana Ayala; Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock and BronxWorks Carolina Espinosa.

In June, staff from Bronx Health REACH and BronxWorks met with Council Member Diana Ayala and her Deputy Chief of Staff, Bianca J. Almedina. Council Member Ayala had visited Los Hermanos, one of our partner bodegas participating in the Don't Stress, Eat Fresh campaign. Bronx Health REACH received $2500 in funding from the City Council to continue the campaign. At the meeting Council Member Ayala offered suggestions on how best to go about securing future City Council funding to support the marketing campaign in 2020

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Funding Supports the Garden at the Institute for Family Health Walton Family Health Center

Joseph Ellis, Kelly Moltzen and Sean Butler were given a tour of the Institute for Family Health's Walton Family Health center rooftop garden, led by Rosanna Medina.

Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program provided funding to build a rooftop garden at the Institute for Family Health's Walton Family Health Center, to promote wellness and healthy living for staff and patients. When some Bronx Health REACH staff visited the rooftop garden in July, the garden was filled with strawberries, vegetables and herbs ready to be picked. "Growing fruits, vegetables and herbs on the health center’s rooftop is an excellent way to engage staff and patients in healthy living practices," said Kelly Moltzen, Program Manager for Creating Healthy Schools and Communities at Bronx Health REACH. She noted, "The fresh produce is easily seen and very accessible, which encourages staff to enjoy the garden, use the fruits and herbs to make infused water, and model healthy practices for patients. The infused water is a great alternative to sugary beverages. Another exciting part of this garden is that it’s used by Walton’s teen food justice group, encouraging the younger generation to eat fresh produce and develop lifelong healthy eating habits."

IFH Staff member Rosanna Medina gave a tour of the garden to Bronx Health REACH staff and shared her excitement about the garden. “I have a green thumb so I really enjoy coming out to the garden every day. I am part of the watering committee and it is amazing to see how quickly the garden has grown since it was built in June.”

Winter Farm Share Returns to Stevenson Family Health Center

After a successful run in 2018, the Winter Farm Share returns to the Stevenson Family Health Center in 2019. Bronx Health REACH has once again partnered with Corbin Hill Food Project to host a Winter Farm Share where employees, patients and community residents can purchase 6-8  seasonal vegetables and one fruit on the first and third Tuesday of every month (from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.) for only $10. Customers can pay in person with cash, credit card, debit card, EBT, SNAP and Health Bucks and can also purchase online by visiting the Corbin Hill website.

The Institute for Family Health Awarded 5 Year CDC Grant for Bronx Health REACH

Bronx Health REACH meeting with our Coalition partners in June to determine which healthy initiatives to pursue for the upcoming grant.

Great news! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the Institute for Family Health a new REACH grant for nearly $4,000,000 to be used over a five-year period. With this new funding, Bronx Health REACH will expand its activities to the entire borough of the Bronx instead of being primarily in the South Bronx. This new funding will allow us to build on our work of implementing community tailored interventions related to nutrition, physical activity and community-clinical linkages.

The focus of Bronx Health REACH in the new grant will be: increasing access to healthier foods and beverages; promoting breastfeeding by increasing the number of locations that are breastfeeding-friendly; supporting active design efforts to increase safe, accessible places for physical activity; and improving community-clinical linkages through the use of locally available health and health promotion programs.

The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany

Bronx Health REACH partner Henry Obispo of United Business Cooperative promoting The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany.

Bronx Health REACH's Kelly Moltzen and Henry Obispo from United Business Cooperative, a partner in the Healthy Restaurant Initiative attended and promoted The Bronx Salad at Bronx Day in Albany on June 12th. Expo participants had an opportunity to taste The Bronx Salad, which was well received. The event to showcase the products and services of Bronx businesses and organizations was organized by New York State Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. Assemblymembers Victor M. Pichardo, Marcos Crespo, Andrew Hevesi, Senator Jose E. Serrano, and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. spoke at the event.

Bronx Health REACH believes Bronx restaurants would be better equipped to serve The Bronx Salad if partner restaurants were supported as business owners through strategies developed by United Business Cooperative. Bronx Health REACH will continue working with United Business Cooperative and Bronx legislators to try to increase the capacity of Bronx food businesses to source healthy ingredients such as those used to make The Bronx Salad.

Stevenson Farm Share is a Hit with IFH Patients and Community Residents

The Corbin Hill Food Project Summer Farm Share Program, supported by Bronx Health REACH and hosted by the Institute for Family HEALTH (IFH) Stevenson Family Health Center has become a staple among IFH patients and Soundview residents looking to purchase affordable local, farm fresh vegetables and fruits. Every Tuesday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. the Farm Share is set up either inside (or outside weather permitting) the Stevenson Health Center where customers can purchase a variety of local and seasonal vegetables and fruit for only $10. Customers place their orders by Tuesday and pick them up the following Tuesday.

The program began a year ago with GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box Program and has since changed hands with Corbin Hill Food Project's Farm Share. In the beginning, around 15 to 25 customers per week signed up to receive farm shares that has since increased to 25 to 35 customers per week! Joseph Ellis, our Community Health Worker along with the Institute for Family Stevenson Health Center's Tiffany Diaz are there every week setting up the Farm Share and greeting customers.

"Customers enjoy coming to the Stevenson Farm Share because it’s so close to where they live," said Joseph. "Customers have told us that the produce sold at the Farm Share is fresher and lasts a lot longer than what their local supermarket sells, and with the summer growing season here, there is more of a variety of vegetables and greens offered. Customers use the recipes we give out, and with our regular customers spreading the word about the Farm Share, more people have signed up."

The Farm Share is scheduled to run through November. Customers can pay with cash, credit card, debit card, EBT, or SNAP. Interested participants can sign up in person or online. For further information call (718) 589-8775 ext. 2832. Sign up now to enjoy fresh, local veggies and fruits!

Bronx Health REACH Acknowledges NYC Council Members Support of Health Bucks

At the March 2nd Coalition meeting, Bronx Health REACH acknowledged NY City Council members Fernando Cabrera (on left in photo above), Vanessa L. Gibson, Rafael Salamanca, Jr. and Ritchie Torres who, from their respective budgets, collectively allocated $43,000 towards Health Bucks. Developed and distributed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Health Bucks are paper vouchers worth $2 each that shoppers use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' market. Appearing at the meeting, Council member Cabrera spoke about the time an angiogram revealed he had a blocked artery and needed to have surgery, otherwise he would have had only twenty-four hours to live. That incident made Council member Cabrera change his eating habits and now he is a vegan with lower blood pressure. He urged all to join in fighting for healthy eating, especially for Bronx children.

 Aicha Bamba (in photo above on the right of Bronx Health REACH Director Charmaine Ruddock) accepted on behalf of Council member Ritchie Torres and John Zaccaro Jr. accepted on behalf of Rafael Salamanca, Jr. Mr. Zaccaro stated that Council Member Salamanca is pledging $50,000 towards Health Bucks in the upcoming FY 19 budget. From 2015 to 2017 Bronx Health REACH assisted 20 churches to distribute 4475 Health Bucks. From 2016 to 2017 600 Health Bucks were distributed to patients at 3 Institute for Family Health centers. The patients redeemed them during 15 farmers' market tours and a Fresh Food Box program.

Corbin Hill Winter Farm Share Comes to Two Institute for Family Health Bronx-Based Health Centers

Bronx Health REACH, Stevenson Family Health Center and Mt. Hope Family Practice have partnered with Corbin Hill Food Project to host a Winter Farm Share where employees and patients can purchase vegetables and fruit every week for only $10. The Winter Farm Share at Stevenson Family Health Center is offered every Tuesday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Mt. Hope Farm Share is offered every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Since the January 23rd debut, over 125 people have purchased from the Winter Farm Share. Customers can pay with cash, credit card, debit card, EBT, or SNAP.

Interested participants can sign up in person or online. For further information about the Stevenson Health Center Farm Share, you can call Tiffany Diaz at (718) 589-8775 ext. 2832; for the Mt. Hope Farm Share, you can call Casey Luber at (718) 583-9000. Sign up now to enjoy fresh, local veggies and fruits!

Parents from Three Partner Schools Participate in Farmer’s Market Tours

Bronx Health REACH intern Elecia Faaiuaso (left) speaking with attendees of a farmers market tour.


This post was written by Bronx Health REACH intern Elecia Faaiuaso.

This fall, Bronx Health REACH gave parents of students from Bronx East Academy, Bronx Charter School of the Arts, and Hyde Leadership Charter School the chance to pick fresh fruits and vegetables without ever leaving the Bronx. Bronx Health REACH staff hosted three farmers’ market tours for 22 parents residing in District 8. Within minutes of arriving in the park, alive with fall foliage, parents saw the bountiful produce stands and lit up with excitement ready to dig in! Parents walked over to further investigate the inviting smells of honey crisp apples and bouquets of peppery arugula. The journey for better health had begun before the tour even started.

The farmers’ market tour included both nutrition information followed by time to shop in the market. Farmers’ market tours make fresh food more accessible and are a great way to provide instantaneous opportunities for healthy eating with new recipe ideas to cook nutritious meals for the participants’ families. Parents who participated received $10 worth of Health Bucks — $2 coupons used to purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. Health Bucks were provided by Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr.’s office, who secured $22,000 worth of Health Bucks for his constituents in this year’s budget. Thank you Council Member Salamanca for supporting these efforts in your district!

Despite the cool, brisk air in the park, parents enthusiastically participated in a rich discussion about the benefits of farmers’ markets, the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available, and the affordable prices. Staff also noted the importance of maintaining a healthy, fiber-rich diet with fruits and vegetables.  “It keeps everything moving along thus cleaning your system!” exclaimed the staff member. At the end, parents were given informational material, including a My Plate Planner, a guide for harvest times for vegetables and fruits, a list of starchy versus non-starchy vegetables, and tips for getting children to eat more fruits and vegetables. After receiving the tips and materials, parents were eager to share their own personal experiences, cooking methods, and food storage advice. One parent shared a unique way to preserve “sofrito” made with fresh herbs — freezing it in ice cube trays. Staff ended the discussion session by thanking the parents for attending and saying how helpful it is to hear cooking tips and food shopping experiences from parents, as they hold the power in the kitchen and determine what the family eats.

After the discussion, parents were encouraged to speak to the farmers about the produce being sold and to try fruits or vegetables they may not have eaten before. With Health Bucks in hand and excitement on their faces, shopping for healthy produce commenced!  Walking through the tents, parents marveled at the affordable prices and were thrilled to be able to buy unfamiliar produce such as acorn squash and familiar items like Bosc pears. Many of the parents on the tour left the market with 3 to 4 bags of fruits and vegetables!

At the end of the tour, Bronx Health REACH had parents share their shopping experience at the farmers’ market. One parent expressed her appreciation for the local farmers and their commitment to “come to the city to provide us with fresh produce in [their] area”. They all agreed that the market was very clean, and the vendors were friendly and provided fresh, affordable produce. The parents would like to see Bronx Health REACH provide more tours so that others could “learn and enjoy” these farmers’ markets as much as they did. One parent commented that she would always pass by the farmers’ market while riding the bus, and even though she wanted to stop and check it out, she never had the money to do so. She pointed out that the Health Bucks helped make it easier for her to purchase fresh produce from the farmers’ market and eat healthy. Bronx Health REACH hopes to arrange additional farmers’ market tours for parents in the spring of 2018 when farmers’ markets reopen.

Visit the GrowNYC website to stay up-to-date on events and the farmers’ market schedule.

Office of Minority Health and Newman's Own Foundation Award Grants

The Fresh Food Box at the Institute for Family Health's Stevenson center.

The Institute for Family Health/Bronx Health REACH has been awarded funding by the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the Healthy Families, Healthy Children initiative in 22 Bronx churches. Funding by the OMH will enable Bronx Health REACH to launch an effort to help prevent and reduce obesity among children and adolescents in African American and Latino churches, several of whom are part of the 22 Bronx partner churches in the Bronx Health REACH Coalition. This program builds on Bronx Health REACH’s successful and popular faith-based, Fine, Fit and Fabulous, evidence-based program for adults which teaches nutrition and fitness utilizing faith based values, a group discussion format, and peer support in goal setting and achievement.

For the third year in a row, Newman's Own Foundation has awarded Bronx Health REACH with a grant to increase healthy eating in the South Bronx through nutrition education and food access initiatives. Funding will support healthy shopping tours and cooking demonstrations for patients participating in the Vegetable and Fruit Prescription program at the Institute’s health centers, provide technical support to bodega owners participating in the Healthy Bodega Program, and promote the Fresh Food Box program at the Institute's Stevenson Family Health Center.

Bronx City Council Members Increase Health Bucks Allocation

Bronx residents shopping at Bronx farmers' markets had the opportunity to purchase more fruits and vegetables thanks to City Council Members Vanessa L. Gibson, Fernando Cabrera, Ritchie Torres and Rafael Salamanca who, from their respective budgets, collectively allocated $43,000 towards Health Bucks. Developed and distributed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Health Bucks are paper vouchers worth $2 each that shoppers use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets. Bronx Health REACH thanks them all. Because of their funding so many more Bronx residents were able to purchase fresh produce from farmers’ markets including parents from several public schools working with Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Initiative.

Institute for Family Health Stevenson Center Expands Neighborhood Healthy Food Options with Fresh Food Box Program

This post was written by Bronx Health REACH intern Hillary Ramirez.

The Fresh Food Box site at the Stevenson Family Health Center has attracted more customers since it opened in July. Every Tuesday the Fresh Food Box tent is set up on the sidewalk in front of Stevenson Family Health Center, and is open to all community members. No affiliation with the clinic is required to join. Located in the Soundview neighborhood of the Bronx; the Stevenson Family Health Center is surrounded by residential buildings with few food purchasing options and little access to fresh vegetables. The Soundview community also has the third lowest daily vegetable and fruit consumption rate in the city.  To help remedy this situation Bronx Health REACH has partnered with GrowNYC and the Stevenson Family Health Center to try and meet  the need for more fresh produce in the area. The goal of GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box (FFB)  is to provide more fresh vegetables and fruits to communities that do not have them or have too little of them.

Stevenson staff is excited to participate in the Fresh Food Box program, and are optimistic about the health benefits these fruits and vegetables will provide for patients. One clinic employee stated that patients simply don’t have enough healthy food options, and when they are told to adopt a healthier diet, the resources required for patients to follow that advice are either not convenient or affordable.

A young boy helps his mother select produce at the Fresh Food Box.

The Fresh Food Box program addresses that by bringing in  fresh produce at a very affordable price. A bag of 6-8 fresh, in-season vegetables and one fruit is only $14.  And while $14 for a bag of 6-8 vegetables and a fruit is the best deal in town, the program’s mission would not be complete without actively promoting and accepting EBT/SNAP, in addition to cash and credit cards. Similar to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)  program Fresh Food Box participants pay for their bag a week in advance, returning the following week to pick up their produce. To help participants with vegetables they may not be very familiar with, Fresh Food Box also includes a set of recipes to try at home.

Display of a Fresh Food Box share containing leaks, blackberries, lettuce, summer squash, golden plums, corn, cilantro and basil. 

With nearly 30 sign ups on the opening day, many community members were excited after receiving their bag full of vegetables, while others looked forward to trying the Fresh Food Box for the very first time. Some participants of the program brought along their children, allowing them to pick out the produce, using the Fresh Food Box program as an opportunity to teach their kids about healthy eating. The Stevenson Fresh Food Box runs until November 14th.

To learn more about the Stevenson FFB, call 212-633-0800 or email Michelle Hernandez.


Click here to learn more about GrowNYC Fresh Food Box Program.

Parents from PS 35 Farmer’s Market Tour

This post was written by Bronx Health REACH intern Wilka Diaz.

On a beautiful, warm Tuesday morning in October, Bronx Health REACH conducted a farmers market tour at the Bronx Borough Hall Farmers Market for fourteen parents from Public School 35. The group discussed the health benefits of incorporating vegetables and fruits into their diets. Parents discussed strategies to get children to eat more fruits and vegetables. Ideas suggested included the use of colorful plates and tasting each new food at least three times.

As the tour continued, Bronx Health REACH informed parents that local farmers markets sell seasonal produce and that at the end of the growing season many of the markets close November 17. Parents were also told of the year-round Fresh Food Box at BronxWorks on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. located at 1130 Grand Concourse. Many expressed interest in the fact that it was year round.

The tour included information about Health Bucks, the $2 coupons used to purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers markets around New York City. $10 worth of Health Bucks was distributed to the parents thanks to Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson who had secured $5000 worth of Health Bucks in an effort to encourage her constituents to purchase produce at their local farmers markets. Parents were encouraged to ask farmers about their customers favorite items at the market.

Overall, the tour was an excellent way to let parents know of the many ways their families can eat healthy. Many community members approached the parents and asked about Health Bucks, and how they can join the tour. When asked if they would attend these events in the future, all the PS35 parents responded “Yes!” One parent said she liked the tour because she discovered a nearby farmers market and liked the idea of going as a group. Another parent appreciated the information about the Fresh Food Box, while another parent stated, “I really like the fact that we can have so many fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Bronx Health REACH will be hosting more farmers market tours in November with various schools in the Bronx. Each tour will consist of a brief nutrition education workshop, resource giveaways, and an opportunity for each participant to spend $10 worth of Health Bucks on fresh produce from the market.

Council Member Ritchie Torres - Civic Empowerment Lies at the Heart of Everything He Does

Bronx Health REACH’s Kelly Moltzen with New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres following the announcement of Torres’ $10,000 allocation towards Health Bucks in 2015.

Bronx Health REACH continues its series on individuals who have made a significant contribution to not only the Institute for Family Health, but to the  Black and Latino communities in the Bronx where they have been strong activists for needed change. A notable member of this group of change agents is New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres, representing the 15th Council District in the Central Bronx that includes the communities of Fordham, Mount Hope, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Van Nest, and Allerton.

Growing up in New York City public housing Council Member Ritchie Torres knows all too well the poor housing conditions faced by residents of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The mold from his childhood apartment triggered asthma attacks, resulting in many hospital visits. When his mother would call NYCHA staff about the mold, they would just paint it over. The problem would continue. As Chair of the NYC Council Committee on Public Housing, Council Member Torres is making sure public housing residents do not suffer as he did. In April, Senator Bernie Sanders and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination, were were invited by Council Member Torres to tour public housing to see firsthand the living conditions residents must endure. Senator Sanders accepted the offer and was led on a tour by Council Member Torres to public housing developments in the Central Bronx and Brownsville, Brooklyn. Secretary Clinton toured public housing in East Harlem.

"By inviting Senator Sanders and Secretary Clinton to tour public housing I was sending a simple message: You cannot confront inequality from the ivory tower. By visiting these public housing projects, you see the abysmal conditions residents live in every day. What you see is the impact from federal disinvestment. How could this be, in a city that has an $80 billion budget, a state that has a $140 billion dollar budget, and a country that has a $4 trillion budget? The tour led Secretary Clinton to commit to secure more funding for public housing."

A central issue of concern Council Member Torres hears from his constituents is affordable housing. "Among my constituents there is anxiety and fear over losing their homes and neighborhoods. We have seen neighborhoods that have been gentrified out of existence, affordable housing has been gentrified out of existence, and my constituents, who are living paycheck to paycheck, are fearful that their neighborhood is next. We need more investment from the federal government to solve the affordability crisis here in New York City.”

Council Member Torres also knows that his constituent’s limited income restricts their ability to purchase healthy food. To address this the Council Member pioneered the use of discretionary funding for Health Bucks, worth $2 each, they are used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets. For the past three years the Council Member has allocated funds towards Health Bucks for his district. "There is nothing more important than your health. With the funding for Health Bucks, more people in my district are able to purchase more fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. My hope is that more Council Members will take it up as a priority for their own districts."

The Council Member’s recent legislative efforts have included improving access to mental health services. "If you lack mental wellness, then a whole host of problems can arise. I have struggled with depression in my own life. It's a genuine disease in which you have no control, and can inhibit your ability to live a fully functional life. Knowing this I have introduced legislation requiring the city to create a mental health plan, specifically for LGBT seniors and others in the LGBT community who have been found to have some of the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide.”

With the Bronx being ranked 62 out of 62 counties in New York State by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Report, Council Member Torres believes that no single policy will solve the problem. "Since the Bronx has some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes, I believe improvements in the public health of the Bronx needs to come from several initiatives such as Health Bucks, expanding the number of green markets, encouraging more healthy food options by creating a zoning or financial incentive for super markets and bodegas to offer healthier eating options. The solutions are there. What is lacking is the political will to overcome the health challenges in the Bronx.”


He also contends that change comes when community members take an active role in civic engagement. “Civic empowerment lies at the heart of everything I do. Communities that are civically empowered attract more economic development, and are in a stronger position to hold elected officials accountable for addressing the community’s fundamental needs. My number one goal is to build civic infrastructure in those neighborhoods I represent. That is why I am a strong supporter of participatory budgeting - it is an effective tool for building civic engagement and improvement. It’s a way for people to take ownership of their neighborhood. You have a right to have a voice in how money will be spent in your neighborhood, and you have a right to expect services that address the core needs of your neighborhood.”

Update on the Bronx Health REACH Vegetable and Fruit Prescription Program

A supermarket tour at Key Foods, part of the Vegetable and Fruit Prescription Program.

As of July 2016, one hundred and seventy patients have participated in Bronx Health REACH’s Vegetable and Fruit Prescription program at three Institute for Family Health centers in the Bronx (Mt. Hope, Walton, and Stevenson). Patients that have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more (considered obese) are given a Vegetable and Fruit Prescription by their doctor. The patient “fills” the prescription by purchasing fruits and vegetables at one of the eleven supermarkets and bodegas participating in the program. Once the patient receives a Vegetable and Fruit Prescription, a Bronx Health REACH Community Health worker provides information about the program and nutrition education.

Patients also get an opportunity to go on tours of supermarkets and bodegas. Conducted in English and Spanish, the tours consist of an aisle by aisle review of healthy vs. unhealthy food, lessons in understanding food labels, and determining which food items provide the best value through unit pricing. At the end of the supermarket tour participants get to purchase $10 worth of healthy food. Three tours are scheduled for August. In addition to these tours, there will also be farmers markets tours. On those tours, patients may redeem their prescriptions for Health Bucks that they can use towards the purchase of fruits and vegetables at the farmers market.

Connecting Bronx Communities to Local Farmers Markets

August 2^nd through 8^th marked the 16^th annual USDA Farmers Market Week. Farmers Market Week is an official celebration of farmers markets across the country, connecting consumers to local fresh, seasonal, and healthy produce. In the New York tri-state area, August and September is peak harvest time. Regional bounty includes beets, broccoli, fresh herbs, tomatoes, peaches, plums and much more.

This month, with the bounty of farm produce available at local farmers markets Bronx Health REACH will launch a new campaign to promote Bronx-based farmers markets. This campaign, which is part of a city-wide collaboration of the Partnership for a Healthier NYC, seeks to increase access to farmers markets.

The campaign’s intent is to connect Bronx communities to local farmers markets. These markets are an important source for healthy eating, and improved health in general. The local farmers markets serve as hubs to supply and support increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

There are 29 farmers markets in the Bronx. To learn more, check out the Bronx Farmers’ Markets map. Next year we anticipate that that number will grow to 30, through collaborative efforts led by Harvest Home, Bronx Health REACH and the Melrose Community.

The campaign to promote farmers markets will focus on raising the awareness that farmers markets are accessible to all. As part of the campaign development process, community coalitions from the Bronx reviewed materials to determine their effectiveness in communicating that message of the accessibility of farmers markets.

In offering feedback, residents expressed that farmers markets accessibility pertains to their location as well as offering good value and prices for high quality produce. In New York, farmers’ markets accept a variety of payments including: WIC FMNP coupons, EBT, SNAP, Health Bucks, cash, debit and credit cards.

So, where is your nearest Farmer’s Market? To find out:

•          Check the map online
•          Text “sogood” to 877877
•         OR, call 311.