Norwood News

Move over, hot dog stand, and make way for more fruits and vegetables.

The city recently designated Community Board 7 – Bedford Park, Norwood, North Fordham and University Heights – as an area that lacks access to healthy foods, including quality produce.

But that perception may begin to change as the city and local hospitals are promoting farmers markets and green carts as a way to bring access of fresh foods to local residents.

Over the past few years, weekly Farmers Markets have sprung up in Norwood (there are now two), at the Botanical Garden and at Poe Park. The market at Poe Park now accepts EBT cards (the debit card version of food stamps) to ensure access for low-income families.

Last year, as part of its green carts initiative, the city began offering highly-prized street vendor permits to entrepreneurs who were willing to peddle fresh produce rather than your standard street fare such as gyros, hot dogs or fried beef patties.

Earlier this summer, Montefiore Medical Center teamed up with the green carts initiative and small business consultants to promote healthy living and reinforce the value of eating fruits and vegetables. There are now nine green carts loaded with fresh fruits and veggies within blocks of Montefiore’s Norwood area campus and dozens more scattered throughout Community Board 7.

The medical center also opened up a new farmers market on its Norwood campus as a way to promote nutrition and open up the campus to the community.

Montefiore President Steven Safyer says it is all part of the medical center’s comprehensive plan to promote healthier lifestyles in the community.

Essentially, Safyer says, if the hospital’s patients eat healthier and become more active (another thing Montefiore is pushing), they won’t need to be treated for many of the preventable side effects and problems that come from unhealthy lifestyles such as obesity and diabetes. In turn, the hospital can focus its resources on bigger goals like eradicating disease and coming up with innovative surgery techniques.

“Our job is not simply to be there when bad things happen, though we’re taking care of that,” Safyer said. “Our vision is grander than that.”

Area Farmers Markets

Harvest Home North Central Bronx Market
Location: Corner of Mosholu Parkway North and Jerome Avenue
Times of Operation: Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Season: July through mid-November

Greenmarket at Poe Park
Location: 192nd Street, between the Grand Concourse and Valentine Avenue
Times of Operation: Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Season: July through November

Greenmarket at the New York Botanical Garden
Location: New York Botanical Garden
Times of Operation: Wednesday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Season: June through November

Farmers Market at Montefiore Campus
Location: Rochambeau Avenue and East 210th Street
Times of Operation: Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Season: July through October

See http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/
regionmetrobronx.htm for more locations.