Mayor Bloomber (center) and (left to right) Health Commissioner Thomas A. Farley, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Council Member Gale Brewer, Greenmarket Assistant Director Cheryl Huber, Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, and NYC Food Policy Coordinator Kim Kessler, announcing the expansion of Health Bucks for the 2012 season on July 2 in the Union Square Greenmarket.

 

On Monday, July 2, GrowNYC was thrilled to host Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and a host of public officials to the Union Square Greenmarket to announce the expansion of Health Bucks. For the first time ever, these $2 incentive coupons (awarded when EBT customers spend $5 in the market) can be spent at ALL farmers markets across the city, including GrowNYC’s 54 Greenmarkets, increasing the affordability of the healthiest, freshest food the region has to offer. View a map of farmers’ markets around the city where Health Bucks will be available. Since GrowNYC's EBT program launched, sales made with food stamp benefits at our Greenmarkets have grown from $1,000 in 2005 to $640,000 in 2011. This summer all of our markets will offer Health Bucks, incentivizing the purchase of fresh, locally grown products helps which in turn help curb diet related disease. "Health Bucks make the farmers market more affordable than the grocery store," said a 97th St Greenmarket customer. In our 2012 season at Greenmarkets across the city, $196,000 in Health Bucks will be available to city residents who are in need of assistance. Customers will be able to provide their families with fresh fruits and vegetables, and our regional farmers will benefit from this stream of revenue. It’s a win-win, upstate and down. Read the official press release