The Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) is excited to announce the Myrtle Eats Fresh Farm to Neighborhood program! Sixteen local stores and restaurants that carry regional products are displaying the above logo, making it easy for customers to know to look for local food and beverage products within these locations and therefore, make informed buying choices that will benefit regional farms and the local economy.
Farm to Neighborhood is one of many Myrtle Eats Fresh Food Access Initiatives aimed to improve community access to healthy, fresh, local foods. The Farm to Neighborhood program goals are to:
1) Increase the amount of farm-fresh local products available in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill 2) Facilitate connections between regional farmers and local businesses 3) Encourage neighborhood consumers to consider local food alternatives and 4) Create a vibrant local and regional food economy.
Chef Billy Ahearn of Cornerstone Restaurant and Lounge at 271 Adelphi Street creates his menu with local, farm fresh products in mind. Participating in the Farm to Neighborhood program has helped him to connect with John Glebocki, farmer and owner of J. Glebocki Farms in Goshen, NY. Chef Billy and his customers were very pleased with the local produce in 2011. He states, “John’s corn, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes have been especially outstanding and my customer base has noticed and commented positively”.
Many ask, “Why should I buy local?” Good question! On average, our food today travels 1500 miles from seed to plate. What conventional markets consider “fresh produce” has actually traveled thousands of miles and has been bred to hold up over distance and time. These distances mean a loss of freshness, a loss of control over the way our food is produced and, most importantly, the chance to know our farmers. MARP has chosen to adopt a regional definition of local foods:
Local food is produced by small to mid-sized farmers within a 250-mile radius of New York City.
New York State peak produce season is right around the corner! Check out the NYS local produce availability chart provided by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Pride of New York program here and look for the Farm to Neighborhood logo and/or postcard at the following locations to ensure that you are enjoying delicious, fresh local foods:
Pushkin - 541 Myrtle Avenue
Associated Supermarket – 492 Myrtle Avenue
Carthage 521 – 521 Myrtle Avenue
Pillow Café – 505 Myrtle Avenue
Green in BKLYN – 432 Myrtle Avenue
Red Lantern – 345 Myrtle Avenue
Cake Joy – 364 Myrtle Avenue
Gnarly Vines – 350 Myrtle Avenue
Emerson – 561 Myrtle Avenue
Putnam’s – 419 Myrtle Avenue
Karrot – 431 Myrtle Avenue
Greene-ville Garden – 373 Myrtle Avenue
Fresh Fanatic – 275 Park Avenue
Cornerstone – 271 Adelphi Avenue
iCi – 246 Dekalb Avenue
You can also visit our local Farmer’s Market locations:
The Myrtle Eats Fresh Community-run Farm Stand: Wednesdays, July – October (2012 time and location to be announced)
GrowNYC Greenmarket: Washington Park and DeKalb Ave - Saturdays, year-round 8:00AM- 5:00PM
To learn more or get involved contact Kassy Nystrom, Program Manager at [email protected] or 718-230-1689.
Article was submitted by Kassy Nystrom, Program Manager. Farm to Neighborhood is a program of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project, under the Myrtle Eats Fresh initiative. This program is supported by the Community Food Projects Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.
The Fort Greene Association is devoted to historic preservation, neighborhood and park enhancement, as well as cultural, economic and housing advancement throughout the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The Fort Greene Association, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization, operating as a non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organization that supports and works in concert with the many other fine organizations that make our community so special and vital. Follow us on Twitter or become our Facebook Fan.
