National Farmers Market Week with the Return of Nutritious and Delicious Cooking Workshops - NYC Health

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Health Department Celebrates National Farmers Market Week with the Return of Nutritious and Delicious Cooking Workshop

Stellar Farmers Markets workshops have reached more than 250,000 participants through 16,000 workshops since 2009

August 10, 2022 — The Health Department welcomes the return of in-person Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables Stellar Farmers Markets (Stellar Farmers Markets) workshops for its 2022 Summer/Fall season. This program – which returns just in time for For National Farmers Market Week – provides free nutrition education workshops and healthy cooking demonstrations with seasonal, locally grown produce at select farmers markets throughout the City from July to November.

“Healthy food is medicine that all New Yorkers should have access to," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "Changing my diet by eating healthier foods helped transform my life, putting my type 2 diabetes into remission. And providing all New Yorkers with access to those same healthy foods is crucial to building a more equitable city. Farmers markets are abound with fresh fruits and vegetables and I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of these nutrition workshops and healthy cooking demonstrations.”

“Healthy eating is critical to wellness,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “But preparing tasty, nutritious meals can be a challenging task for many of us, for a variety of reasons. These workshops bring community members together to exchange ideas on how to make healthy eating accessible, affordable, delicious and fun.”

Farmers markets are vital community assets that serve as critical access points to high quality produce. They also support our regional food system and growers, and provide space for social interactions and gatherings. New York City has over 135 farmers markets, nearly all of which accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Stellar Farmers Markets is one of many programs across New York City that supports shopping at farmers markets.

The program builds on participants' knowledge and skills about how and why to prepare healthy meals. For example, participants discuss healthy eating topics like how to read food labels and plan healthy meals, flavor food with less salt, and store produce so it lasts longer. For the past two seasons, the Health Department led virtual nutrition workshops (available to watch on Facebook) to maintain safety protocols in response to COVID-19. This season, participants will return to in-person preparation and tasting of delicious, seasonal plant-based recipes. All participants aged 18 years and older receive a $2 Health Bucks coupon, redeemable for fresh fruits and vegetables at any NYC farmers market.

Since its inception in 2009, Stellar Farmers Markets has reached over 250,000 participants and conducted over 16,000 workshops, in different languages including Spanish, Bengali, Mandarin and Cantonese. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (USDA SNAP-Ed) via the Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables program at the New York State Department of Health.

Starting July 5, 2022, Stellar Farmers Markets returned to the following markets and will be there through mid-November:

Gouverneur Hospital Farmstand

Thursday's from July 21 to November 17, 2022

Address: Clinton St between Jefferson &, Madison St, New York, NY

Interpretations Available: Spanish

Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarke

Tuesday's, from July 5 to November 15, 2022

Address: Grand Concourse @ 161st and 162nd St, Bronx

Interpretations Available: Spanish; Bengali

Corona Greenmarket

Friday's, from July 8 to November 18, 2022

Address: Roosevelt Ave & 103rd St, Queens

Interpretations Available: Spanish

Cypress Hills Farmstand

Friday's, from July 15 to November 18, 2022

Address: Fulton St & Richmond St, Brooklyn

Interpretations Available:Spanish; Cantonese

Myrtle-Wyckoff Greenmarket

Thursday's, from July 7 to November 17, 2022

Address: 34th Ave between 79th & 80th Sts, Queens

Interpretations Available: Spanish

La Familia Verde Farmers Markets

Tuesday's, from July 12 to November 15, 2022

Address: Corner of E Tremont Ave & Lafontaine Ave, Bronx

Interpretations Available:Spanish

Start and end dates are subject to change.

The Health Department also supports community-based organizations to run nutrition education adapted from the Stellar Farmers Markets curriculum for children and adults at farmers markets, farm stands, urban gardens, and food pantries. Eight organizations provide nutrition education and food tastings from May to November at select locations.

An additional Health Department resource aimed to make healthier eating more affordable, which also supports farmers markets in neighborhoods across NYC, is Health Bucks. Health Bucks are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers markets. For every $2 spent at farmers markets in SNAPbenefits, shoppers can get $2 in Health Bucks up to $10 per day.

Not-for-profit community organizations can apply to receive free Health Bucks to distribute to community members as an incentive to participate in nutrition education and other health-related activities. Organizations can also purchase Health Bucks for distribution. For more information, email farmersmarkets@health.nyc.gov.

Farmers markets and farm stands across the city are run by organizations and individuals that vary in size and scope. GrowNYC is the largest market operator running 50 markets, 13 farmstands, and 7 Fresh Food Box sites. The La Familia Verde Farmers Market, located at Tremont Park in the Bronx, hosts Stellar Farmers Markets workshops and partners with Bronx Community Gardens, Bronx Green Up and the Mary Mitchell Center to provide fresh produce to residents.

Other City Resources Aimed to Make Healthier Eating Affordable

Half Off Farm Box: New Yorkers who participate in SNAP can get 50% off a preassembled box of regionally grown farm fresh fruits and vegetables at participating sites.

Get the Good Stuff: New Yorkers who participate in the SNAP can get free fruits, vegetables, and beans at certain NYC supermarkets. For every dollar spent in SNAP benefits on eligible fruits, vegetables and beans, customers can get $1 to buy more next time they are at the supermarket.

“Farmers markets are a crucial aspect of GrowNYC's food access initiatives to make fresh, healthy food more accessible to New Yorkers,” said Angela Davis, Director of Food Access and Agriculture at GrowNYC. "In addition to making high-quality produce more available, GrowNYC is thrilled to have once again partnered with Stellar Farmers Markets to offer a range of nutrition and cooking workshops at our Greenmarkets. This, along with accepting payment options such as SNAP/EBT, HealthBucks, and Healthfirst OTC benefits, is all part of our ongoing efforts to promote healthy eating and combat food insecurity."

“The La Familia Verde Farmers Market is dedicated to sustaining the environment and culture of our neighborhood through education, community service and horticulture. Stellar Farmers Markets fits into this mission by supporting our community with Health Bucks to purchase fruits and vegetables and providing an opportunity to learn helpful culinary skills and share ideas about eating healthy,” said Aleyna Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Mary Mitchell Family & Youth Center. “The La Familia Verde Farmers Market, now operated by the Mary Mitchell Center, has a strong focus on healthy eating. Our Food Justice Club offers a Healthy Beverage Station, which nicely compliments the Stellar Farmers Markets workshops.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Gallahue / Shari Logan

PressOffice@health.nyc.gov"