South Bronx Farmers Market Debuts in Mott Haven, South Bronx Providing Fresh Food Access for Residents

Farm-fresh, affordable food is now available in South Bronx at the new South Bronx Farmers Market (SBFM) that launched Saturday, June 14. The market runs for 23 consecutive weeks on Saturdays until November 22^ndand operates from 10 am – 4 pm, rain or shine. The market is located on 138^thStreet between Willis and Alexander Avenues in the South Bronx.

In support of residents on food subsidies, food stamp recipients can now use their SNAP/EBT card at the market to purchase food-stamp authorized fruits, vegetables, farm fresh eggs, local honey and baked breads. Some vendors also accept WIC checks so families can add locally-grown produce to their pantries.

In addition to farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, market shoppers can attend daily on-site cooking demonstrations offered by both Just Food and Stellar Markets each market day. Shoppers can learn how to cook available foods with simple and nutritious recipes provided by community chefs speaking in English & Spanish.

“This is a positive, win-win situation for everyone involved in the South Bronx Farmers Market –both the vendors and the food stamp customers. Now our residents will have access to the freshest, healthiest produce and products that New York State has to offer!” says Lily Kesselman, Director of SBFM. The market is located in the poorest congressional district in the United States and almost 50% of children in this area live below the poverty line. Services for subsidized food-program recipients is vital in this community.

Farmers include La Finca del Sur, a local community garden located just blocks away from the market on 138^th Street & Grand Concourse. Other farmers include MimoMex Farm of Goshen, New York who grows staples for Mexican cooking including seasonal peppers, cilantro, tomatillos and tomatoes; Sweet Freedom Farm of Germantown, NY will offer a variety of vegetables using no-till, organic and permaculture techniques; Wassaic Community Farm of Wassaic, NY will participate and is one of the only New York farmers offering a variety of medicinal teas and herbs as well as locally-grown vegetables. Trinity Farms of Clintondale, NY offers fresh fruits, vegetables and farm-fresh organically-fed free-range eggs. The market will also offer affordable, artisanal breads from local baker Zaro’s and local honey.

The market is a 100% community-led project planned and run by volunteers and empowered by strong community partnerships that have all helped to bring the project to fruition: Youth Advocates Program is offering two local youth paid jobs at the market each week; both Stellar Markets and Just Food are providing stipends for community chefs; The NYC Department of Mental Health & Hygiene is providing $2 Health Bucks for every EBT/SNAP purchase of $5 which gives these shoppers an additional 40% of product for their dollar (from July – September only); and Citizens Committee for New York City provided the funding with a Neighborhood Grant.

Opening day local celebrity, creator and star of Bronx Flavor & The Cooking Channels’s “The Culiniary Advendurs of Baron Ambrosia”, Baron Ambrosia attended the event as did NYC City Council Speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito.

The market is easily accessible by train and located just outside the MTA 6 Train 138^thStreet/Third Avenue station or the 4/5 trains at the Grand Concourse/138^thStreet Stop.

All market information is available at online in both English and limited information in Spanish http://www.southbronxfarmersmarket.com

For more information about South Bronx Farmers Market, Inc, contact southbronxfarmersmarket@gmail.com or (516) 418.6355. Visit the market on Twitter at @SBxFarmMarket

Lucero Elementary School Shines in School Wellness

Located in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx, Lucero Elementary School is a brand new K-2 school that opened its doors in 2013.  Since opening its doors in September, Lucero has recognized the unacceptably high rates of childhood obesity and the burden of chronic disease on families that already exist in the South Bronx.  Lucero Elementary School has taken significant steps to implement, communicate, and enforce a healthy snack policy, with the help of their very first school wellness committee. The Wellness committee, which is comprised of teachers, parents, and community partners, created and implemented an innovative sticker program to help students make healthier snack choices, as well as educate parents. 

The Lucero school wellness council developed a sticker that is placed on unhealthy snacks to remind students and parents to make better snack choices.  All Lucero students and staff have been constantly monitoring each other.  Students are checking nutrition labels to determine whether or not a snack is unhealthy, and are rewarded each Friday during the school’s community circle meeting for all of their hard work.  Students are presented with certificates for choosing healthier options in the cafeteria, helping monitor class snacks, and reading and analyzing nutrition labels.   The unhealthy snack sticker is a very powerful tool that sends a clear message to students and parents. 

Not only are Lucero students promoting and learning about healthier snack options, but they are also receiving the state mandated 120 minutes per week of physical education -- which is an excellent accomplishment.  Lucero Elementary School is also incorporating wellness into the classroom, through 20 minutes per day of Activity Works physical activity breaks. All students also attend weekly CookShop classes, where they learn about and enjoy sampling new vegetables, which they then recognize and select from the cafeteria salad bar.  Parents also have the opportunity to attend CookShop for families so that they are being educated about a variety of fruits and vegetables along with their children. In addition, the school promotes Zumba classes, which are held at the local community center, where parents have the opportunity to stay active each week.

Bronx Health REACH provides the school with support for their nutrition and fitness programs and policies through the Healthy Schools NY program, funded through the New York State Department of Health.  Healthy Schools NY aims to increase the number of schools that implement programs and policies that promote the consumption of healthy foods and beverages, fitness, and compliance with state physical education regulations.

Fitness & Activity Night, held on May 1^st, was the culmination of the Lucero community’s efforts and was a celebration of the healthy school year for Lucero students and families, and community members. Fitness & Activity Night featured fitness stations and a sampling of fresh and healthy dishes from New Settlement Apartments and the Department of Education’s Office of SchoolFood.  Funding for the event was made possible in part through a School Wellness Council grant from the New York City Department of Education.  The event accommodated over three hundred people, and was truly a success for Lucero Elementary School. 

Congratulations to Lucero Elementary School on receiving Gold Recognition in the Excellence in School Wellness Award program during the school’s first year! Thanks to Cristina Muia, Physical Education teacher and wellness coordinator at Lucero Elementary School, and Taisy Conk, Community Healthy Food Advocate from New Settlement Apartments, for their contributions to this article.