GrowNYC Launches Oh SNAP! Campaign

July 15, 2016

 

On Monday, July 11, we launched the “Oh SNAP!” (#ohsnapnyc) educational campaign with a live mural painting on one of our Greenmarket, Co. deilvery trucks by artist, Queen Andrea, at the Union Square Greenmarket. The “Oh SNAP!” campaign was designed to draw attention to the fact that GrowNYC’s network of Greenmarket farmers’ markets accepts electronic benefits cards (EBT) and shoppers can use their SNAP benefits at these markets to purchase farm-fresh produce from the region’s mid-sized family farmers.

Greenmarket pioneered the acceptance of EBT cards at farmers markets in 2005 and became the model for farmers’ markets across the country. Every Greenmarket accepts EBT and last year almost $1 million in SNAP benefits were processed. While SNAP sales at Greenmarket are impressive, they represent only a tiny fraction of the $3 billion dollars spent in SNAP benefits in New York City each year. GrowNYC wants all New Yorkers to know they can use their SNAP benefits at their neighborhood farmers market to purchase fresh and healthy local produce to feed their families and the “Oh SNAP!’ campaign will help get the word out in a fun and engaging way. As an added bonus, the NYC Department of Health's Health Bucks are available year-round for the first time giving families shopping with SNAP an extra $2 to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables for every $5 they spend.  

The “Oh SNAP!” campaign was conceived pro bono by global marketing firm Edelman, designed by artist Queen Andrea and is based on the colorful and lively street art characteristic of New York City. The campaign engages viewers while promoting a positive message of healthy eating with SNAP benefits. The artwork can be found all over the city: on subways, buses, in local newspapers and on public painted murals by local artists throughout the five boroughs. The campaign was made possible through a grant from the USDA Food & Nutrition Service. Check out more pictures of the live mural painting here

 

4 New Gardens Bloom in NYC

July 5, 2016
Posted in Community Gardens

GrowNYC's garden program has had a busy first half of 2016! 

Among other things, we've built four new community gardens, totaling 40,000 square feet of new open space.  Here's the skinny:

 

Windmill Community Garden

Windmill Community Garden
A vacant lot in Long Island City - who would have thought? We worked with a great neighborhood association and adjacent school on building out this 2,500 square foot space with raised beds, a shed, and, you guessed it, a windmill!  Lots more to come from this space in the 2nd half of 2016.
 

 

400 Montauk Avenue Community Garden

400 Montauk Community Garden
An existing garden in East New York, Brooklyn that had been extinct for several years, we started the year with a rubble-filled lot and, a few weeks later, had a total renewal - 20 new raised beds, picnic tables and garden benches, and more!  

 

Warwick Street Community Garden

Warwick Street Community Garden
Another extinct community garden in East New York that we worked with a host of community partners on identifying, organizing, designing, and building a new garden on a completely vacant space.  Now features raised beds, picnic tables, a shed, and, most importantly, plants! More info

 

United We Stand Community Garden

United We Stand Community Garden
4 contiguous community gardens flourished for 30 years until they were decimated by fire in the Winter of 2014.  Flash forward to this February, and we'd worked with the garden groups and the Parks Department to tear all the internal garden fences down, clear the entire site, and start working on a design for 1 large united community garden that spans an entire block between 137th and 138th Streets in the South Bronx.  

Halfway through 2016, we've built 50 raised beds, a dozen picnic tables, a new shed, and a pathway linking the two streets.  We can't wait to put the finishing touches on the garden this summer!  

Volunteer Profile: Jonathan Kong

July 4, 2016
Posted in Community Gardens

Volunteers are a major source of strength for nonprofits and GrowNYC is fortunate to have the time, effort and talents of so many dedicated New Yorkers. Whether they are corporate groups giving back to the community by helping with a garden build for a neighborhood or school or a single individual who feels passionate about what GrowNYC does, we are extremely grateful.  Want to volunteer with GrowNYC?

Jonathan Kong started volunteering with GrowNYC in 2014, quickly establishing himself as a tireless worker and enthusiastic supporter of all things GrowNYC.  But in 2016, Jonathan has taken things to a new level: Creating and undertaking The Greenmarket Challenge: a quest to volunteer at all 54 Greenmarket farmers markets in 1 year.  

We spoke with Jonathan what inspires him, which Greenmarket is his favorite, and much more:
 

How long have you been volunteering with GrowNYC?

This is my third year.

What is it about GrowNYC that inspires you to work with us?

I really like the environment, working outdoors, getting to interact with the public, doing hands-on activities such as the cooking demos, and learning something new about myself everyday.

Favorite activity when volunteering?

Cooking demos are always fun to do because I get to see the actual ingredients I'm using and use them with the recipe. Outreach is great since I get to see the diversity of people who live in different neighborhoods.

How many different Greenmarket locations have you volunteered at?

So far about 30, but I plan to volunteer at all of them by the end of this year.

Do you have a favorite Greenmarket?

I like Union Square a lot because there's a lot of different activities going on down there and it's really easy to get to. I also have favorite markets for each region: Forest Hills for Queens, Columbia for Upper Manhattan, Tompkins for Lower Manhattan, Fort Greene for Brooklyn, and Parkchester for Bronx.

Favorite fruit and/or vegetable?

I tend to go for tropical fruits like mangos, pineapples and coconuts, but they don't sell them at the markets.

What would you tell someone who was considering volunteering with GrowNYC?

Volunteering with GrowNYC will help you improve your social skills, build confidence in yourself, and feel comfortable working with other people.                                                                                                                         

Storm Advisory

July 2, 2016
Posted in Greenmarket

Severe weather in the city or in the greater region may affect markets. Markets may close early or farmers may not make the trip in to the city.

We are watching tropical storm Hermine. There are no market closures expected at this time, but please check back for updates.

In addition, we will post up-to-date information here: 
Union Square Daily List of Producers in Attendance 
Manhattan Greenmarkets Facebook
Queens Greenmarkets Facebook
Brooklyn Greenmarkets Facebook 
Staten Island Greenmarkets Facebook

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