GrowNYC Greenmarket & Youthmarket Photo Contest

October 20, 2018
Posted in Greenmarket

Greenmarket 2018 Photo Contest

Farmers Markets are very photogenic.

To properly celebrate National Farmers Market Week this year, we invited photographers (professional, amateur, or student) to visit markets, snap some photos, and send us the images that best celebrate GrowNYC Greenmarkets and Youthmarkets. 

Our team of judges chose the top 25 entries for a roving photography show at various markets throughout the city during the month of October, and one grand prize-winning photograph won dinner for two at Loring Place

Rye Day 10/19 at the Union Square Greenmarket

October 19, 2018
Posted in Greenmarket

GrowNYC is proud to participate in the second annual Rye Week, a celebration of rye as an agricultural product in New York State, which will take place from October 15 – 21.

October 19th will be Rye Day at the Union Square Greenmarket. Johanna Kindvall, author of Smorgasbord: The Art of Swedish Breads and Savory Treats, will be at market signing books and demonstrating how to prepare flat breads with rye flour. Also in attendance will be Strong Rope Brewery, Breuckelen Distilling, Hillrock Estate Distillery, and the GrowNYC Grainstand

The Union Square Greenmarket will also host a number of Empire Rye producers on October 17 and October 20. Three years ago, six prominent New York State distilleries came up with the concept for Empire Rye, a whiskey style for the Empire State. Similar to the way Kentucky has a style of bourbon with strict standards, each Empire Rye distiller must adhere to the same specifications in producing their rye. 

“Not only does New York State’s craft beverage program create jobs, boost local economies, and financially benefit local grain farmers,” says GrowNYC President and CEO Marcel Van Ooyen, “it’s also great for the environment. Small grains are good for the soil when used in rotation with other crops. As the demand for grains like rye increases, so does the health of the soil on New York farms.”

Celebrating Our 250th Stop ‘N’ Swap®

September 21, 2018
Posted in Recycling | Tagged swap, Stop 'N' Swap, reduce, reuse, recycle

Stop 'N' Swap 250

At GrowNYC, there’s no stopping when it comes to swapping!  In an effort to reduce NYC’s waste and help more New Yorkers reuse perfectly good items, our zero waste programs funded by DSNY set out to provide an annual swap event for every community district in the five boroughs. 

This year we celebrate our 250th Stop ‘N’ Swap in NYC – all thanks to dedicated staff, our passionate volunteers, and diverse community partners, who make more than 50 swaps a year possible!

At Stop ‘N’ Swap, the public is invited to bring clean, portable, reusable items to share with those who can use them. No one is required to bring something to take something — you can simply show up with a bag and see what’s free for the taking. Clothing, books, housewares, electronics, and toys are just some of the offerings.  Recent memorable treasures include peanut butter and jelly pillowcases, pocket mouse, grass jelly, an amateur radio calendar, and plants potted just for fellow swappers (view photos).

Since 2008, more than 62,000 New Yorkers have attended a Stop ‘N’ Swap co-hosted by more than 135 different community partners and supported by over 1,200 volunteers.  In just 5 years, participants have kept more than half a million pounds of reusable items out of landfills. 

80% of products in the US are used once, then thrown away — find a Stop 'N' Swap near you and start reusing today!

On the Road With Our Grains Team!

August 28, 2018

This July, GrowNYC's Grains team set out on the open road to explore the innovative ways farmers, brewers, and bakers are incorporating the burgeoning bounty of northeastern grains into their breads, beers, and fields. For this trip, we focused on the Hudson Valley, diving deep into the grains scene of Columbia and Greene counties. 

Our first stop was at Migliorelli Farm, which was one of the last farms to operate in New York City. As a child, Ken Migliorelli first learned farming in the Bronx, where Co-op city now stands. In the late 1950's, his father moved the family to Tivoli, NY in Columbia County where Ken still manages the original farm (plus an additional 900 acres). Migliorelli farm stands dot the mid-Hudson Valley, and Ken sells his acclaimed fruits and vegetables at 12 GrowNYC Greenmarkets. As he walked us through his barley and rye fields, Ken explained how he originally tried growing grain when Greenmarket first required bakers to use 15% local grain, but he struggled with fusarium head blight. Over the years, he has found a stable market for barley and rye with distillers and brewers like Coppersea, who use Migliorelli rye for their Empire Rye. Ken also established his own on-farm brewery, From the Ground, with brew master Jake Cirell, and he sells grains for animal feed to Quattro's Game Farm, a Greenmarket poultry producer. 

Dirt hounds take note: since adding small grains to his rotations, Ken's soil organic matter has increased by a whopping 1.5-3%. Excellent! Proof that partaking in a NYS beer or cocktail helps establish a more sustainable local food system. Cheers!

Next, we crossed the Hudson River to Sfoglini's new facility in West Coxsackie, NY. Two tiny pasta machines (the ones they began with in Brooklyn’s Pfizer Building back in 2013) were tucked into a corner of the vast, re-purposed aerospace facility. Colorful pastas--flavored with beets, mint, and sriracha--draped on industrial pasta dryers lined the walls. Sfoglini co-founder Steve Gonzalez told us about their recent expansion, including a $2.5 million round of investment and nationwide distribution through Whole Foods. Sfolglini remains committed to local growers; in fact, this commitment was something that attracted investors. In the last year, over 60,000 pounds of local flour (mostly from Farmer Ground Flour) went into their pastas. The company is now poised to grow with the Northeast grainshed. 

The next day began with a much anticipated tour of Stone House Farm, a network of projects developed and supported by Peggy McGrath Rockefeller and her children. We stopped by Sparrowbush Bakery just as owner Antoine Guerlaine and his family were unpacking loads of new proofing baskets in preparation for their first full scale bake. Antoine, who baked previously for Camphill Village, is setting up shop as an extension of his partner Ashley’s operation, Sparrowbush Farm. We can't wait to try Sparrowbush Breads! 

On the other side of the property, David Goldstein runs the onsite Hudson Valley Carbon Lab. David explained the six year rotation program they use to build soil and measure carbon capture. Stone House has a major research component with a mission to gather hard data on the impact of cover crops. David also showed us “Hudson Hemp,” a state sponsored pilot program to grow fiber and CBD hemp at the farm.  

Ben Dobson, the Farm Manager of Stone House Farm, then gave us a whirlwind tour of the farm's grain operation, that included fields of barley, rye, AC Morley, and Glenn wheat, with a pair of towering combines that is the base of the operation. Stone house has become both a source for farmers looking for organic feed, as well as an important resource for learning and research. Dobsen now growing grains for brewers and distillers, and he’s preparing to grow food and baking grade grains in the future.  


Our last stop was at Hudson Valley Malt. In 2014, Dennis and Jeanette Nesel launched the malt house, one of the few floor malting facilities operating in the country. Dennis believes this technique makes for superior malt flavor. Standing amid a rolling landscape of sprouted barley, Dennis walked us through the intricacies of the malting process, from soaking the grain, to letting it dry and cool, and then roasting it to bring out unique and delicate flavors. Dennis, who still works in finance (though it’s hard to tell which is the side gig), loves being the middle-man. He explained to us how growing malting barley gives barley farmers an additional revenue stream. The Nesels' have contracts with 24 breweries and four distilleries, including Migliorelli’s “From The Ground Brewery.” Dennis has one goal for all of them: “I want to be their secret weapon!” 

Variety Showcase at GrowNYC's Project Farmhouse

July 26, 2018
Posted in Greenmarket


Monday, September 24, 2018 in at GrowNYC's Project Farmhouse. 

This year the Culinary Breeding Network is partnering with GrowNYC to bring the VARIETY SHOWCASE to Project Farmhouse in New York City. This event is an interactive mixer designed to build community between plant breeders, organic farmers and eaters where attendees have the unique experience to taste new and in-development vegetable, fruit & grain cultivars with the breeders that created them, share opinions, talk about needs & preferences and learn about the importance of organic plant breeding.

The event includes a series of tables featuring plant breeders with examples of their breeding work. The tables provide attendees with a tangible example of the bio-diversity being created with organic production and flavor in mind. Each breeder is paired with a chef that creates a dish that highlights the breeding project and samples are tasted by attendees.

The ticketed, indoor Variety Showcase NYC will be held at two times - DAYTIME (12:00 - 3:00 pm) and EVENING (5:00 - 8:00 pm). Please note there are different breeders and chefs at each time. There will also be interactive tables at a free, public outdoor space 2 blocks away at the Union Square Greenmarket from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. 

Tickets are $100 and available HERE. {Make sure to choose your desired time from the drop down menu.}
Sponsorship opportunities are available, view our Sponsorship Deck or contact Liz Carollo at lcarollo@grownyc.org with inquiries. 

Participating Breeders, Seed Growers, Farmers
A Field's Edge Research Farm
Campo Rosso Farm
Cornell University
Experimental Farm Network
Glynwood
GrowNYC's Greenmarket Regional Grains Project
Harris Seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Hudson Valley Seed Company
Indigenous Seed Keeper Network
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Kitchen Garden Farm
Oregon State University
Organic Seed Alliance
PanAmerican Seed
Seed to Kitchen Collaborative
Sylvester Manor Educational Farm
The Bread Lab
Truelove Seeds
Uprising Seeds
Washington State University

Participating Chefs
Alex Raij, Txikito, El Quinto Pino, and La Vara
Ann Nunziata, Natural Gourmet Institute
Anya Peters, Kit an’ Kin
Arielle Johnson, MIT Media Lab
Ashley DuVal & Selena Ahmed, Shoots & Roots Bitters
Colin Wood, Flora Bar
Joel Viehland, Swyft
Jonny Hunter, Underground Food Collective
Luis Herrera, Brunch Gozón/Venezuelan Pantone
Mary Arquette, Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment
Mary Cleaver, The Cleaver Co
Matt Weingarten, Dig Inn
Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
Monique Hamilton, The Cleaver Co
Negro Piattoni, Metta
Nicholas Tamburo, Momofuku Nishi
Patti Jackson, Delaware & Hudson
Peter Hoffman
Sonja Joy Key
Stephan Ilnycyj, Restaurant Norman
Suzanne Cupps, Untitled
Timothy Wastell, Antica Terra
Zachary Golper, Bien Cuit

 

Farmers Market Week Photo Contest

July 26, 2018
Posted in Greenmarket

Farmers Markets are very photogenic.

To properly celebrate National Farmers Market Week (August 5-11), grab your metro card, hit a market you've never visited (we have 50 Greenmarkets and 15 Youthmarkets!) and take some photos.

We invite photographers (professional, amateur, or student) to get out there, snaps some photos, and send us the image that best celebrates GrowNYC Greenmarkets and Youthmarkets. MAJOR bonus points if it is not a photo of the Union Square Greenmarket - we have plenty of images of our flagship market and want to see some beauty shots of our other markets.

Our team of judges will select the top 25 entries for a roving photography show at various markets throughout the city, and one grand prize-winning photograph will receive a gift certificate for Greenmarket-centric restaurant, Loring Place

Please email your high resolution photos, along with a short description of your experience visitng a new market, to photo@grownyc.org by Thursday, August 30th.

Good luck!

Photo Credit: June Russell, W 97th Street Greenmarket

Update: SNAP/EBT at Greenmarkets

July 16, 2018
Posted in Greenmarket | Tagged SNAP, ebt

August 2, 2018

Governor Cuomo Assures There Will Be No Interruption in Service for SNAP Recipients at GrowNYC Greenmarkets This Season

Thanks to the continued leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York State has created a plan to ensure that customers across the United States using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at farmers markets can continue to do so, thus protecting the viability of farm businesses in New York and throughout the country.

For the past month, the capacity to accept SNAP/EBT at many farmers markets was in jeopardy. Without Governor Cuomo’s support, the company that operated the app used by Greenmarket and 1700 other farmers markets across the country, Novo Dia Group, would have gone out of business on July 31st. Now, Novo Dia’s app, Mobile Market Plus, will remain in operation at least through February 2019.

GrowNYC is dedicated to ensuring that all New Yorkers can choose to participate in a regional food system, support local farmers, and have access to healthy, local food. We thank Governor Cuomo for his continued leadership in championing upstate growers and connecting them to New York City farmers markets.

"Governor Cuomo’s tenure has been marked by a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the viability of our state’s farms, whether through supporting the New York State Greenmarket Regional Food Hub or promoting and expanding the production of New York State craft beverages. This extension until February will allow enough time to find a permanent solution to processing SNAP at farmers markets; we are deeply grateful for Governor Cuomo’s help,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, CEO and President of GrowNYC.

In 2017, GrowNYC processed $1.1 million in sales for farmers through SNAP/EBT cards, and we provide an additional $400k in Health Bucks to SNAP customers to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, all of which goes directly into farmers’ pockets, helping to keep their farm businesses viable and bolstering rural economies in New York.  Throughout the uncertainty of the past month, we’ve been heartened by the effluence of friendship and support from many, many organizations across the state and the country.

Update as of Thursday, 7/19: 
The National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs is providing funding to keep Novo Dia Group operating for an additional 30 days. While we are thankful for this immediate short term solution, there remains a need for a permanent fix to this issue. Please continue to contact your represenatives and ask for their support of SNAP acceptance in farmers markets. 

Read the full press release here

Original Post: 
Recently, there have been stories in the press about farmers markets losing the ability to accept SNAP. GrowNYC was notified earlier this month that Novo Dia Group, the company that operates the app that Greenmarket uses to process SNAP at market, is going out of business as of July 31. This impacts farmers markets all over the country. 

GrowNYC’s priority is to continue to accept SNAP at every one of our locations without any break in service. We are dedicated to providing a marketplace accessible to all.

Partners in New York State, New York City, and across the country are working to come up with short and long term solutions. Additional updates will be shared on this blog post as they develop.

In the meantime, please contact your Congressional representative to ask them to sign on to the letter being led in the House by Congressman Jim McGovern. The letter expresses concern over the impact of NDG's shutdown and will be sent to USDA FNS. (NYS senators Schumer and Gillibrand have already signed onto the Senate’s letter.)

Slow Food Nations Unite

July 3, 2018

Greenmarket Director Michael Hurwitz is headed out to Denver to speak at Slow Food Nations, "a festival of flavor, culture and exploration."

Michael will talk about innovation – particularly how Greenmarket provides a favorable marketplace for producers to innovate and test out new ideas. The success of the Greenmarket Regional Grains Project is just one example (of many) of how advantageous this can be for farmers and producers. 

A big thank you to Market Umbrella Founder and Slow Food USA Executive Director Richard McCarthy and former Market Umbrella Assistant Director and now Farmers Market Coalition Research Associate Darlene Wolnick for including us in the event and being great partners over the years.
Left to Right: Michael Hurwitz; Darlene Wolnick; Richard McCarthy

2018 Compost Giveaway

June 26, 2018
Posted in Recycling



Springtime food scraps bring summer givebacks!  Thanks to you, GrowNYC has collected more than 11 million pounds of food scraps that have been transformed into compost to nourish NYC green spaces--including yours!  Check out our July giveback schedule and bring your own container to one of GrowNYC's food scrap drop-off locations to take all the compost you can use.  First come first served, while supplies last.

COMPOST GIVEAWAY SCHEDULE

Friday, July 6

-Corona Greenmarket

Wednesday, July 11

-Manhattan Compost On-the-Go (COTG) locations

Friday, July 13

-Bronx Compost On-the-Go (COTG) locations

-Fordham Plaza Greenmarket

Saturday, July 14

-Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

-Inwood Greenmarket

-Staten Island Mall Greenmarket

-St. George Greenmarket

Sunday, July 15

-79th Street Greenmarket

-92nd Street Greenmarket

-Carroll Gardens Greenmarket

-Columbia Greenmarket

-Cortelyou Greenmarket

-Parkside Food Scrap Collection

-Tompkins Square Greenmarket

Tuesday, July 17

-Bowling Green Greenmarket

-Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket

-Ft. Washington Greenmarket

-La Familia Verde Farmer's Market

-Lenox Hill Fresh Food Box

-Poe Park Greenmarket

Wednesday, July 18

-57th Street Greenmarket

-Dag Hammarskjold Greenmarket

-Flushing Greenmarket

-Learn It, Grow It, Eat It Youthmarket

-New Settlement's 170 Farm Stand

-Project HOPE Fresh Food Box

-Tribeca Greenmarket

-Uptown Grand Central Fresh Food Box

Thursday, July 19

-175th Street Greenmarket

-Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket

-BronxWorks Food Scrap Collection

-Columbia Greenmarket

-Tucker Square Greenmarket

-We Stay / Nos Quedamos Food Scrap Collection

Friday, July 20

-97th Street Greenmarket

-Parkchester Greenmarket

Saturday, July 21

-57th Street Greenmarket

-82nd Street Greenmarket

-Halsey Community Garden Fresh Food Box

-Abingdon Square Greenmarket

-Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket

-Fort Greene Greenmarket

-McCarren Park Greenmarket

-Tribeca Greenmarket

-Tucker Square Greenmarket

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