Garden’s Greenmarket Returns, with Health Programs

Posted in Programs and Events, The Edible Garden on June 28 2010, by Plant Talk

Fresh, Local Foods From Farms Converts This City-bred Aficionado

Luis G. Perreaux Jr. is the Botanical Garden’s Public Education Greenmarket Intern this summer and fall.

As a native of the Bronx, I grew up thinking that food was only available at supermarkets and bodegas, and I had no idea how it got there. Not until I visited a farm in the Dominican Republic, where my parents were born, did I realize that the growing of food is a collaborative process that connects people, plants, and animals in ways I could never have imagined on my own.

I loved how the farmer would constantly rotate crops and livestock so the soil would stay fertile and moist. After that memorable trip, I began to care more about where my foods came from and whether they were sustainable or not. Then I found the Greenmarket at 161st and Grand Concourse, where the old Yankee Stadium used to be, with its fresh, locally grown, and nutritious produce. I have been a devoted fan of Greenmarkets ever since.

That’s why I’m thrilled to be a part of the Greenmarket at The New York Botanical Garden this year. The Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC, features locally grown produce and fresh-baked goods and is one of the largest open-air farmers market programs in the country.

The Garden’s Greenmarket is held each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through November 24, just inside the Garden’s Mosholu Gate. You can learn how to prepare nutritious meals and find out about composting, recycling, growing vegetables, and more during weekly demonstrations.

Among the vitamin-rich fruits at the market are peaches, raspberries, cherries, and apples. Plenty of healthy vegetables are also available, including heirloom tomatoes, corn, squash, eggplant, and assorted greens, as well as fragrant herbs. Don’t forget to reward yourself with homemade treats such as pies and breads, and in the fall, sweet cider and old-fashioned donuts. Call 718.362.9561 and press 406# to hear what’s available at the market each week.

This year at the Greenmarket you’ll also find ways to track and improve your health. Nutrition and exercise education and programming are offered for both children and adults through the Heart Smart Program, part of the MetLife Healthy Families Program, funded in part by the American Heart Association. Participants learn the connections between the foods they eat and their health, through activities designed to improve cardiovascular health. Montefiore Medical Center and St. Barnabas will provide free health-related screenings on specific dates. A special map of the Garden identifies walking trails.

Like me, many people have discovered the Greenmarket by chance. But please tell your family and friends about it, too. Tell them about the farmers and their love for growing fresh and nutritious foods. Be sure to also express how the Greenmarket makes you feel. I’ve told everyone I know about the Greenmarket. Now I’m telling you. Please stop by on Wednesdays and say hello!