Health Department Launches New
Farm to Preschool Program
This new initiative brings inexpensive, locally grown produce to parents,
kids and community members in neighborhoods citywide
The Health Department, in partnership with GrowNYC and Corbin Hill Food Project, recently announced the launch of Farm to Preschool, a new initiative that brings fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to 11 participating preschools across the city. Once a week at each site, parents, preschool staff and community members can purchase a farm fresh produce box containing a variety of seven to 10 locally grown fruits and vegetables. Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett and ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrión made this announcement at the Bishop Sexton Head Start in Brooklyn, one of the more than 1,100 sites in New York City offering free, high-quality pre-K this year.
“Eating habits are developed early in life, and the Farm to Preschool program helps children learn about healthy eating and where their food comes from at an early age,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. “By partnering with child care centers in neighborhoods with little access to affordable food that is healthy, Farm to Preschool offers a unique way for busy parents to purchase healthy food for their young families in a way that is both affordable and convenient.”
“As an agency, we are excited to partner with the Health Department on this important initiative that provides fresh locally grown produce and nutritional information to children, parents and preschool staff at eight of our EarlyLearn NYC centers,” said ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrión. “We are especially pleased to be a part of this nationwide trend that educates families in early childcare settings on food-based programs and initiatives, that stress the importance of healthy eating at a young age.”
Farm to Preschool sites include:
- Ace Integration Head Start, 1419 Broadway, Brooklyn
- Bishop Sexton Head Start, 933 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn
- United Community Day Care Center, Inc., 613 New Lots Avenue, Brooklyn
- Mosholu Montefiore Child Development Center, 3450 DeKalb Avenue, Bronx
- Mosholu Montefiore Community Center Inc., 3512 DeKalb Avenue, Bronx
- Belmont Community Day Care Center, 2340 Cambreleng Avenue, Bronx
- 1199 Future of America Learning Center, 2500 Creston Avenue, Bronx
- Child Center of New York Escalera Head Start, 169 West 87th Street, Manhattan
- Union Johnson Early Learning Center, 1829 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan
- Hudson Guild Children’s Center, 459 West 26th Street, Manhattan
- Child Center of New York, 60-02 Roosevelt Avenue, Queens
As the first of its kind in New York City, Farm to Preschool is following a nationwide trend of linking families in early childcare settings with locally grown produce and food-based education. Teachers at all 11 sites will use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Grow it, Try it, Like it” curriculum in the classroom to garden with children and give them hands on experience with seasonal fruits and vegetables as part of the program. In addition, the Health Department will provide consultation on nutrition education and food demonstrations on site to caregivers. Caregivers will have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and how to prepare simple and healthy recipes, such as “Leafy Greens with Apple Dressing” and “Red Pepper and White Bean Salad.”
At a cost of $10 to $12 per produce box, Farm to Preschool provides New Yorkers with affordable access to locally grown produce. Health Bucks and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) are accepted for all produce boxes. Commitment for the season is not required to participate. For details on how to buy a share in your local Farm to Preschool program, call 311 or visit the Health Department website for a list of sites.
“GrowNYC’s Fresh Food Box is an extremely affordable option for buying fresh, local produce in New York City and serves the dual role of providing New Yorkers with access to the healthiest, regionally-grown foods available, while also paying regional farmers a fair price for their product,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of GrowNYC.” :We are thrilled to partner with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide our youngest New Yorkers and their families a convenient location to pick up their Fresh Food Box. In addition, the nutrition education they provide at the distribution sites helps children learn the benefits of eating seasonally and locally at an early age, making them more apt to develop positive attitudes towards healthy foods and develop good, lasting habits.”
“Corbin Hill Food Project was founded to serve the city's most vulnerable populations, and that begins with children,” said Corbin Hill founder Dennis Derryck. “We are happy to be partnering with the health department on this initiative, so that our children can experience the magic of growing and eating just-picked produce at an early age.”
Farm to Preschool comes after the success of several other healthy eating initiatives from the Health Department, including:
- Eat Well, Play Hard in Child Care Settings offers fun, engaging and hands-on nutrition and cooking classes for 3- and 4-year-old children and for parents and caregivers. The program is delivered by Registered Dietitians at roughly 100 child care centers in low-income neighborhoods per year. In addition, dietitians provide training and resources for child care center staff to include more nutrition education in the classroom. Topics include the benefits of and ways to eat more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, increasing physical activity, and decreasing screen time.
- Nutrition and Physical Activity Resources are provided and/or available on the Health Department website to approximately 1,800 child care centers across the city to promote healthy eating and active living. Resources include a policy guide to improve the nutrition and food environment at the center, a nutrition education curriculum for children and parents, physical activity curriculum for children in the classroom, and a quarterly nutrition newsletter with tips and ideas for nutrition education in the classroom.
-
Come See What’s Cookin’ Kids! provides free food-based activities for children at select farmers’
markets (list below). Bilingual classes encourage children to eat more
fresh fruits and vegetables by engaging them in a variety of hands-on
activities. Children explore new fruits and vegetables grown by a local
farmer, taste featured recipes and receive a $2 Health Bucks coupon. Topics
include: where fruits and vegetables grow, smart snacking, tasting new
foods and eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. The free-program
currently operates at four sites and runs through November:
- Bushwick Farmers’ Market at Maria Hernandez Park on Saturdays
- 125th Street Farmers’ Market at the State Office Building on West 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd on Tuesdays
- Corona Greenmarket on Roosevelt Ave and 103rd Street on Fridays
- Jackson Heights Greenmarket on 34th Ave and 78th Street on Sundays
- The Stellar Farmers' Market Program provides free, comprehensive nutrition education workshops and cooking demonstrations at 22 farmers’ markets per week throughout New York City. Workshops include topics such as healthy eating, food resource management, food safety, and tips on saving money when food shopping.
- Health Bucks, worth $2 each, are distributed by the Health Department and can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all farmers’ markets in New York City. Beginning in July, all farmers’ markets in New York City accept Health Bucks! All farmers’ markets that accept food stamps (Electronic Benefit Transfer/EBT) will give one Health Buck coupon to each customer for every $5 spent using food stamps. Community organizations may apply to receive Health Bucks to distribute to their clients as an incentive to support nutrition education and other health-related activities.
For more information on any of these programs, please click here.