Hi Friends!
In case you missed it: April is Earth Month and this year we’re celebrating 50 Years of Greenmarket and our work building a more resilient food system for New Yorkers. 
Today, we’re sharing a glimpse back in time to the beginning of Greenmarket, and asking you to share your Greenmarket stories.
Revolutionizing NYC’s food scene since 1976 
50 years ago, city planners Barry Benepe and Bob Lewis, saw three problems riddling the city:
The city’s public spaces were underutilized and idle.
New Yorkers lacked access to fresh, high-quality food.
Local farm businesses were closing at an alarming rate and had no direct way to sell to city residents.
What they’re saying: In early 1976, Barry and Bob dreamed of addressing the city's pressing needs for fresh food, open space, and revitalized urban-rural connections by reintroducing a timeless (but at the time bygone) concept to New York City: the farmers market! By June of that same year, they had acquired enough support to make their dreams a reality.
John Hess, a food editor, co-author of ‘The Taste of America’ and early instrumental supporter of Greenmarket, praised this achievement in an excerpt of “The Rebirth of Farmers Markets in New York City” booklet:
The quality of life in and around our cities has eroded grievously in recent decades. Our greatest city, New York, has suffered some of the greatest problems. Yet at a time when a series of man-made disasters have struck here, it is good to be reminded of the city’s underlying vitality. Here and there, neighborhoods revive spontaneously, vacant lots bloom as community gardens, and now - Greenmarket.
Not long ago, few would have thought it possible. The city is fed by plasticized, ageless produce trucked from thousands of miles away, at a vast cost in fuel and flavor. In a radius of an hour’s drive around the city, the farmer was all but extinct, and one by one the survivors were getting offers from developers that they could not refuse.
But a little group of practical visionaries led by Barry Benepe believe they could halt this decline, and reverse it. By their own dedicated efforts, with a little seed money from foundations and not a penny from the taxpayer, they have wrought a minor miracle…
Why it matters: Today, the vision Barry and Bob had five decades ago lives on and the Greenmarket network continues to reimagine public spaces, connects New Yorkers and regional farmers, and increases access to fresh and flavorful produce.
Go deeper: Learn more about the late Barry Benepe and the beginnings of Greenmarket in this video.
The impact: What began in a parking lot has expanded into over 45 markets across New York City.
These markets support regional farmers and make fresh, seasonal food accessible to millions of New Yorkers annually.
Farmers markets across the country have used GrowNYC Greenmarkets as a blueprint for connecting their cities with local agriculture.
Share Your Story 
We want to hear from you! Whether you've been a farmer, a regular shopper, worked at a market, or have special memories to share, we’d love to hear your story.
Share your favorite moments, unforgettable experiences, or how your Greenmarket has impacted your NYC experience over the years. Your stories will help us honor this incredible community and the people who’ve made it so special.
Submit your stories to our online form here.
Support Our Work 
Donate now: As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to support our work in education, food access, agriculture and green space in NYC.
This April we’re aiming to raise $50,000 in celebration of 50 Years of Greenmarket. Make a gift today to help keep farmers farming and families fed.
Become a Friend of GrowNYC: Monthly giving is the most sustainable way to support GrowNYC and our programming.
Friends of GrowNYC commit to making a recurring gift of at least $15 a month and receive an exclusive GrowNYC cotton canvas tote bag, invitations to special events, and the knowledge that they are making a lasting impact on our city.
Fundraise for GrowNYC: It’s simple!
Click the orange “Start Fundraising” button
Personalize your page (or use our prefilled story) and share it with friends and family who love this city as much as you do
Sign-up for Greenmarket newsletters: Click here to sign-up and get the freshest news in your inbox each month!
We’re grateful for New Yorkers like you, who share our vision of building a better food system for all. Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment