In a small patch of green behind an iron fence in Mott Haven, residents come once a week for the kind of fresh produce they have a hard time finding in local food stores.
Wednesdays between July and November, BronxWorks hosts its Farm Stand project at Padre Plaza Success Garden at the corner of East 139th Street and St. Ann’s Avenue. There, locals can buy greens from farms north of the city, and learn how to prepare them.
The program also serves as an educational hub on sustainability, addressing topics such as recycling, food waste, and healthy nutrition tips through sessions led by nutritionists.
BronxWorks launched The Farm Stand in 2016, in partnership with Mike and Sheila Young, the founders of Padre Plaza . When Sheila was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the Youngs decided to radically alter their diet. They eventually began selling organic produce from their garden, and later expanded to promote healthier eating habits in the neighborhood.
Each week, a nutritionist spotlights a specific seasonal vegetable or fruit and explains its nutritional benefits, as well as sharing recipes. All of the dishes are USDA certified.
“We use what already exists,” said BronxWorks nutritionist Jairy Padro. “Sometimes maybe we’ll tailor the ingredients so that they reflect the community we work with. That way they feel more comfortable taking it home, trying it out. They get to taste it here as well.”
Padro joined BronxWorks in 2019 with a degree in health education from Lehman College. Since then, she has built connections in the community through these educational initiatives.
“I consider them (attendees of the Farm Stand) to be like a family. They come every single year,” she said. “I think that in a way, they rely on the farm stand. They know where the food comes from.”
At a session of the Farm Stand on a mid-July Wednesday, Padro led a conversation about practical tips for reducing waste at home and when dining out. Topics included managing portion sizes, composting to enrich soil and grow vegetables, and proper storage techniques to prevent premature spoilage and disposal. The session included a cooking demonstration featuring a magenta root sauce recipe, highlighting ways to repurpose ingredients to minimize waste.
The Farm Stand accepts various payment methods, including SNAP benefits and community center coupons, and aims to confront longstanding health challenges residents face due to the absence of nutritious food on local shelves. According to a 2019 report by Montefiore, approximately 17.5% of Bronx residents have diabetes, the highest rate among the five boroughs. Mott Haven/Melrose was among the 10 districts with the highest diabetes rates in the Bronx.
“We’re trying our best, even in this neighborhood,” said Carolina Espinosa, BronxWorks’ program director. “This is maybe half a mile radius that we’re impacting. We’re not impacting a very big area, but it’s something.”
As the summer winds down, fewer greens are available at the garden, forcing the staff to get creative with their recipes and cooking demonstrations, featuring less familiar dishes.
Climate change also contributes to the scarcity of vegetables, causing farmers to lose crops to unpredictable weather. Padre Plaza is no exception. Consequently, it can only supply a limited amount of produce vegetables for the farm stand to meet its financial obligations.
Whatever the challenges, farm stands are a vital cog in the food chain of neighborhoods like the South Bronx, said Espinosa, helping residents who want to eat well shop closer to home.
“Anybody can shop there,” she said. “If you see one in your neighborhood, support them.”
About Post Author
