YUM Fresh Food is a group buying program aimed at increasing access to affordable, quality produce in the Washington Heights community. YUM Fresh Food allows residents of Washington Heights to purchase fresh produce at wholesale prices in variety bags that change from week to week. Since the onset of the program in June 2010, YUM has distributed more than 3,000 bags and over 70,000 pounds of fresh produce in the Washington Heights area.

A partnership between GrowNYC and Isabella Geriatric Center, a senior care and resource center in Washington Heights, YUM also seeks to create opportunities for senior citizens to actively address issues of food access. Isabella finds and trains seniors who work with GrowNYC and Isabella staff to choose which foods the program will offer, plan food packaging, create marketing materials, and conduct outreach to the greater Washington Heights community.

Purchasing produce from YUM

YUM is available to anyone who lives or works in the Washington Heights area. Currently, YUM offers 4 types of bags: a small mix of fruits and vegetables (10 items, $10), a large mix (12 items, larger quantities, $20), an all fruit bag and an all vegetable bag ($12 each). Cash, checks, and EBT/SNAP benefits are accepted. Bags are ordered in advance and picked up on Wednesday at the following locations:

Isabella Geriatric Center
Coffee Shop
515 Audubon Ave (at 190th Street)
2:00pm 6:00pm

Isabella Senior Resource Center
4026 Broadway (at 169th Street)
2:00pm 4:30pm

Community League of the Heights
500 W. 159th Street (at Amsterdam)
Pickup times TK

17 Fort George Hill (at Ft. George Hill)
Community Room
Pickup Times TK

45 Fairview (btwn Fairview and Dyckman)
Community Room
Pickup Times TK

To order or for more information, please call 212-342-9866.