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Red Hook Farmers' Market

A Good Idea

Description

The Red Hook Farmers’ Market (RHFM) is an urban market featuring produce grown on the Red Hook Community Farm by local youth and products from other regional farmers. The Red Hook neighborhood in South Brooklyn has often suffered from limited access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food leading to a neighborhood health crisis. RHFM was created in 2001 when Red Hook’s only supermarket closed leaving the neighborhood without a source of fresh produce, meat, or dairy. The market provides a venue for neighborhood activity, a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) pick-up site, and farm-stands offering high quality regional vegetables, meat, dairy, and baked goods. The market stand, CSA, and community farm are run by local youth participants. Profits from the sale of Added Value produce are returned to the program to support stipends for youth participants.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Red Hook Farmers’ Market is to ensure that neighborhood residents can access locally grown, healthy, safe, and affordable food.

Results / Accomplishments

Since its founding in 2001, RHFM has advocated for participation in the New York Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for more than $20,000 in food benefits for seniors and $60,000 for 1,000 new and expectant mothers. In addition to these benefits the market has donated $15,000 worth of vegetables to individuals in need and has had a positive influence on the neighborhood by providing meaningful work for Red Hook teenagers, founding the Friends of Coffey Park organization, and annually hosting educational workshops for residents.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Added Value
Primary Contact
Added Value & Herban Solutions, Inc.
370 Van Brunt Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 855-5531
http://www.added-value.org/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Community / Social Environment
Community / Civic Engagement
Organization(s)
Added Value
Date of publication
2008
Date of implementation
2001
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York, NY
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Women, Older Adults
Miami-Dade Matters