NEWARK, NJ — A hydroponic greenhouse in Newark that has grown 25 tons of vegetables over the past decade celebrated a milestone anniversary this week.
It's been 10 years since RWJBarnabas Health launched the "Beth Greenhouse" at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Since then, the hospital's greenhouse has tallied more than 50,000 pounds of produce – a welcome addition to a city that has large swaths of "food deserts" without reliable access to fresh veggies.
Crops grown at the greenhouse have included lettuce, curly kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, pak choi, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers, along with herbs and flowers such as sage, lemongrass, cilantro, rosemary, chives, lavender and sunflowers.
Produce grown at the greenhouse is available at the hospital's farmers market, held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market accepts SNAP, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits, and participates in City Green's Good Food Bucks program – and has served thousands of benefit users over the years.
The greenhouse's produce is also used for the facility's nutrition education programs, including Hannah's Kitchen at NBIMC.
According to Barbara Mintz, a senior executive with RWJBarnabas Health, the Beth Greenhouse shows that community investments can tackle social determinants of health.
"By combining access to nutritious produce with education and wellness resources, we are helping individuals and families make healthier choices and lead healthier lives," agreed Darrell Terry Sr., president and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey.
According to RWJBarnabas Health, it plans to expand on the success it has seen in Newark.
In addition to sustaining the Beth Greenhouse's service to Newark families, the health system plans to replicate its greenhouse model in Toms River in 2027 in partnership with Sadie Vickers Resource Center – helping hundreds of families experiencing food insecurity to access and grow healthy food.
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