Bronx Borough prez Gibson invests in fresh food farmers markets
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and Councilmember Eric Dinowitz announced a $30,000 combined investment in Health Bucks, food access initiatives, and fresh food markets last week in an effort to address the high rates of food insecurity in the Bronx.
The announcement comes as the city’s health department reported 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, according to the BP’s office.
“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,” Gibson said in a statement. “Many of our residents reside in food deserts without access to nutritious food options.” This lack, she said, “contribute[s] to poor health outcomes and health-related illnesses.”
Launched in 2005, Health Bucks acts as an incentive for New Yorkers to incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables into their daily diets. For every $2 spent at a city farmers’ market or green stand using SNAP on an EBT card, participants can get $2 in Health Bucks, up to $10 per day.
Gibson’s office contributed $10,000 to invest in Health Bucks. Dinowitz contributed a $20,000 allocation for the Norwood Farmstand (East Gun Hill Road and Dekalb Avenue).
“Food insecurity continues to be a major issue in our communities,” Dinowitz said in a statement. “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. I am grateful for the work of organizations like GrowNYC, [which], 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 Norwood farmers market has been a staple in the community since 2013 and is part of the larger GrowNYC Farmstand network.
“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.”
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