Bronx
Health REACH came together with the New York League of Conservation Voters and
the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center last year to tackle a local
sustainability challenge. Community members identified a
need for more access to fresh, affordable food, and signed over 1700 postcards
requesting that Council Member Torres designate funds from the City Council
budget for HealthBucks, Council Member Torres responded.
“The neighborhoods I represent in the Bronx face serious health issues. Seniors with diabetes have a death rate more than double that of New York City. The childhood obesity rate is the highest in New York City. Two-thirds of residents are overweight or obese,” said Council Member Torres. “I am proud to announce an unprecedented investment of $10,000 in the HealthBucks program, which increases access to fruits and vegetables for residents, particularly for low-income residents. The HealthBucks program is a momentous step in addressing public health concerns in my district and citywide”.
Karen
Washington, a member of the Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center, spoke about
the importance of Health Bucks in supporting fresh, affordable food that
community members can buy from local farmers. “Fresh food should be a human
right, not a privilege for some,” said Karen, who also happens to be a recipient of
this year’s James Beard Leadership Award, which recognizes visionaries in the
world of food politics and sustainable agriculture.
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“Health
Bucks will make a real difference in this community by connecting the dots
between healthy food, healthy New Yorkers and a healthy environment,” said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New
York League of Conservation Voters. “Thank you, Council Member Torres, for
making today’s victory possible. And thank you to the thousands of Bronx
residents who stood up and made their voices heard. Together, we are building a
more just, equitable and sustainable city.”
“We applaud Council Member Torres for his support of our
Health Bucks program and hope that other members of the Council will follow his
lead,” said First Deputy Commissioner of
Health Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Increasing access to fruits and vegetables by
making them easier to afford is one way we can help give New Yorkers healthier
options, particularly in the Bronx which has high rates of obesity.”
“Council Member Torres’ unprecedented securing of $10,000
from the City’s 2015 budget for HealthBucks in District 15 represents a
significant win for the many residents who indicated that being able to afford
to buy fresh produce in their neighborhood farmers markets was very important
to them. With the Bronx having some of
the highest rates of diet-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes in New
York State, these HealthBucks will go a long way to making fresh fruits and
vegetables more affordable for Bronx residents,” said Charmaine Ruddock, Project Director for Bronx Health REACH.
“We know that individuals that shop at farmers markets have
a greater intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Health Bucks play a critical
role to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest
food available, as well as provide crucial income to regional farmers. Last
year almost $1 million dollars was spent in SNAP at our Greenmarkets, thanks in
part to the $2 Health Buck incentive. We are very thankful to Council Member
Torres for earmarking this money for an important win-win program that has
value not only in promoting the health of participants but also the
preservation of our local farming community,” said Michael Hurwitz, Greenmarket Director for GrowNYC.
“In working with our patients at Union Community Health
Center, the hardest part is changing behaviors. Resources like Health Bucks are
an innovative way for us as providers to get patients to try new fruits and
vegetables that they never would have considered. Further, Health Bucks provide
an opportunity for communities to not only support our local economy, but also
help level the playing field with those big businesses which promote processed
foods,” said Doctor Nelson Eng, Chief Medical Officer at Union Community
Health Center.
Data from 2009
shows 17.2% of New York City residents in low-income neighborhoods reported
eating no fruits and vegetables on the preceding day, compared with
8.0% of residents in high-income neighborhoods (CDC). Farmers markets, which
are located in several locations in the Central Bronx, provide a promising
venue to decrease this disparity.
Health Bucks is an added incentive to SNAP recipients. For every $5
in EBT purchases, qualifying consumers receive an additional
$2 in HealthBucks. Data from the CDC shows that the Health Bucks
program leads SNAP recipients to shop at farmer’s markets with more frequency,
due to the incentive the program offers.
Here is some press coverage of the HealthBucks announcement:
Here is some press coverage of the HealthBucks announcement:
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