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Bronx, NY – With Bronx County leading statewide with the highest percentage of food insecurity, on Thursday, August 8th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson at the Norwood Farmstand green market located at East Gun Hill Road and Dekalb Avenue, was joined by New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Tutu Badaru, Assistant Director of Grow NYC Food Access Initiatives, to announce the distribution of a total of $15,000 in Health Bucks, which are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at NYC farmers markets and green stands. Additionally, Council Member Dinowitz announced at the press conference a $15,000 allocation for the Norwood Farm Stand and the Borough President announced a series of pop ups in partnership with local farmers markets where her team will distribute health bucks and other resources for the months of August and September.
The breakdown in Health Bucks allocations are $10,000 from the Bronx Borough President’s Office, $5,000 from New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, who is investing an additional $15,000 specifically for the Norwood Farmstand.
“As the cost of food increases, and access to fresh, affordable produce decreases, we are seeing firsthand the effect it is having on our communities,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Many of our residents reside in food deserts without access to nutritious food options that contribute to poor health outcomes and health-related illnesses. Our team made a $10,000 investment in health bucks because we have seen the impact this initiative can have in combatting hunger, improving nutrition, increasing access to healthy food and increasing our urban agriculture. I want to thank my colleague, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Grow NYC for their partnership in reducing hunger and improving our borough`s health infrastructure.”
“Food insecurity continues to be a major issue in our communities. With nearly 600,000 Bronx adults at risk of food insecurity in 2022 alone, we must double-down on our efforts to meet our community’s needs,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “I am grateful for the work of organizations like GrowNYC, who, through the Norwood Farmstand, have distributed thousands of pounds of fresh fruit and produce in Council District 11. Through discretionary funding, I have been able to support GrowNYC’s work and over the next few months, will be distributing thousands of dollars in Health Bucks to members of our community. I want to thank the Bronx Borough President for partnering with our community in this critical endeavor.”
The announcement comes as the New York State Department of Health reports that the Bronx is the most food insecure county statewide at 39% with the second highest in Queens, and the lowest at 22.1%, in Richmond County.
This trend is also seen nationally where food insecurity skyrocketed to 11.2% between 2020 and 2022 after being on the decline from 2014 to 2020, according to the United State Department of Agriculture. Despite having the Hunts Point Cooperative Market, the largest food distribution center in the world housed in the South Bronx, 12.9% of Bronx residents live in a state of food insecurity, with ¼, not consuming enough nutritious food to live a healthy life, according to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, a figure 1.5% above the national average. In addition, almost 50% of residents rely on SNAP in a borough with the highest diabetes and obesity rates. Of all 59 Community Districts, 1 and 2, that include the neighborhoods of Mott Haven, Hunts Point, and Melrose, are the most food insecure.
Launched in 2005, Health Bucks serves as an incentive for New Yorkers to incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables into their daily diet. For every $2 spent at a farmers market using SNAP on an EBT card, you can get $2 in Health Bucks, up to $10 per day.
“Fresh and nutritious foods should be within reach for every New Yorker regardless of their income,” said NYC Health Department Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The city’s public health agenda, HealthyNYC, has set firm targets to reduce diabetes and other chronic illnesses that are taking years off our lives, and life from our years. To reach our goals we need partnership and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has been a passionate advocate for health. We’re grateful for her support to build a healthier Bronx.”
Norwood Farmstand, a staple in the community since 2013, is part of the larger GrowNYC Farmstand network of over 60 food access retail sites across all five boroughs operated by GrowNYC. The food sold at Farmstands is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced wholesale through GrowNYC’s Food Hub. This essential program ensures nutritious, fresh food access across the city, and provides vital revenue for family farms in the Northeast.
“By accepting nutrition benefits and offering Health Bucks incentives to customers using SNAP, we’re ensuring more New Yorkers can access fresh, local food while fostering an equitable regional food system,” said Tutu Badaru, Assistant Director of GrowNYC Food Access Initiatives. “Health Bucks provide a match of up to $10 a day for fresh fruits and vegetables, increasing shoppers’ purchasing power.”
Farmstands are operated in collaboration with numerous community-based and mutual aid organizations including Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, ReWireme.com, and the American Heart Association, that are deeply rooted in the community. Any unsold produce is donated to local emergency food providers to prevent food waste.
GrowNYC’s Farmstand program fosters an equitable food system by providing a pathway to regionally grown food, paying farmers a fair price for their products, reducing food miles, and connecting downstate food-insecure communities to rural farmers.
Additionally, Council Member Dinowitz announced at the press conference a $15,000 for the Norwood Farm Stand and the Borough President announced a series of pop ups in partnership with local farmers markets where her team will distribute health bucks and other resources for the months of August and September. Anyone can access Health Bucks at Green Markets held on different days throughout the Bronx. For more information, go to grownyc.org.
The Bronx Borough President’s Office will be at the following Farmstands next week:
Tuesday 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Market at Preston
2780 Schurz Avenue
Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
BronxWorks Farmstand
1130 Grand Concourse
Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
JBOLC Garden Community Farmers Market
Sedgwick and Goulden Avenues