Better Food, Easier: Health Bucks Hit the Greenmarket
Posted in Programs and Events on July 10 2012, by Matt Newman
Eating better can be a constant struggle, especially for big city dwellers more likely to hit the hot dog cart than the produce aisle. For the many whose budget won’t allow for splurging on organics, the thought of piling a basket high with healthy foods is far off. But thanks to Health Bucks, a city-wide coupon program geared toward low- and fixed-income residents, bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to the table may be less of a trial.
Just as we’re all about the beauty and preservation of nature, The New York Botanical Garden stands behind the delicious, great-for-you goodness that comes out of it! It’s why you’ll find some of the area’s finest farm-raised fruits and vegetables for sale along Garden Way, Wednesday mornings through November. Blackberries and blueberries, kale, apples, cucumbers, fresh herbs–the Greenmarket is a weekly cornucopia of home-grown, seasonal garden goodies. Now made that much easier on wallets thanks to a city-wide initiative.
With Mayor Bloomberg’s backing, the NYBG’s Greenmarket now counts itself among the many markets accepting both EBT and Health Bucks.
“Eating more produce is an easy–and delicious–way to replace junk calories with nutritious, healthy fruits and vegetables,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “A critical component to fighting the obesity crisis is making sure that all New Yorkers have access to fresh produce, and the expansion of Health Bucks helps even more low-income New Yorkers affordably purchase fruits and vegetables.”
That’s right: all the greenmarkets in New York City now accept Health Bucks. Including ours! It’s part of a larger movement to help tackle the obesity rate in the boroughs–now standing at a daunting 58%–and improve our overall health as a city. Better yet, it supports the growth of the small farmers who raise all this great stuff. So if you’re looking to do your part–for yourself, your family, or the city at large–I suggest a brief jaunt up to the NYBG this Wednesday morning. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., you’ll have the pick of New York’s finest home-grown produce (with some tasty edibles from our neighbors in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, to boot). And, as on every Wednesday, parking and grounds admission are free.
Head to the official site for more information on how to get, use, or distribute Health Bucks, and keep an eye out for weekly Greenmarket updates each Tuesday on Plant Talk. As the seasons change, so do the harvests, meaning a new variety of fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy almost every time you visit us!
Weekly Walking Club – Meets every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. by the NYBG information table.
Join Public Education staff for an invigorating 1.5 mile loop around the Garden. Wear your walking shoes and bring a bottle of water for a walk that makes a great part of a healthy lifestyle.
Sweet and Stinky
Visit the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden throughout the summer and fall to take part in ongoing Dig, Plant, Grow! programs from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Each month, preview the changing seasonal themes here at the market. This week: Sweet and Stinky! Become a green thumb by planting your very own herb to tend at home.
