Staff and interns join City Councilmember Corey Johnson (center) to prepare food bags for distribution.
BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Getting your daily serving of fruits and vegetables doesn’t require a green thumb or a chef’s hat — just eight George Washingtons and one John Hancock.
Organized by Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, the Westside Senior Supported Agriculture Food Bag Program is being run locally by the office of City Councilmember Corey Johnson. Don’t feel left out by the program’s name. Although it’s targeted towards seniors, participation is open to all residents of the 3rd Council District, regardless of age or income level.
Each week, GrowNYC (the fertile minds behind the Union Square Greenmarket) deliver the goods to the Fulton Senior Center — where Johnson, his staff and interns pack the produce into bags that are delivered to pick-up locations (Hudson Guild, the Fulton Senior Center, SAGE and Greenwich House).
THE FOOD BAG DELIVERY PROGRAM
Through October 22
Order on Mon. & Tues.
For delivery the following Wed.
$8 per bag (cash only)
Each bag has 5-6 varieties of produce
Sign up at Councilmember Corey Johnson’s Office
224 W. 30th St. | Suite 1206
Btw. 7th & 8th Aves.
For info, call 212-564-7757
At just $8 per bag (a $20-$25 value), you’re buying fresh produce directly from local farmers — and the 5-6 selections vary from week to week. July 30’s bag had yellow squash, corn, green beans, Boston lettuce, basil and blueberries. The week before had carrots, radishes, scallions, parsley, golden zucchini, cucumbers and red leaf lettuce. All of this good stuff comes from GrowNYC partner farms — among them, Dagele Brothers Produce, a Black Dirt farmer whose lettuces are “the best around”; Davenport Farms, known for their sweet corn and peppers; and Toigo Orchards, a central PA grower that utilizes Integrated Pest Management in their orchard.
Each bag (roughly 5 pounds) comes with a guide outlining the contents, storage tips and a few recipes that require very little preparation.
“I’m so proud to be able to expand this program to Corey Johnson’s district,” B.P. Brewer told Chelsea Now. “This is really a trifecta for seniors: fresh, local and affordable fruits and vegetables at a pace that a smaller household can manage while providing a market for local growers, too.”
Shortly after distributing bags for the program’s second week, Councilmember Johnson praised its capacity to expose people to “nutritious fruits and vegetables they might not otherwise try. It supports family farms, and builds a sense of excitement around fresh food.” Local interest has been strong, he says, noting that the program “is growing with each round of sign-ups. I hope we can expand it to even more people in my Council District next year.”
To participate, visit Councilmember Johnson’s office and place your order ($8, cash only) on Mon. or Tues., for deliver the following Wed. Call 212-564-7757 for more information.
