The City’s Source for Newark-Fresh Produce? Youth Farm Stands

From kale and collards to tomatoes, strawberries and more, Greater Newark Conservancy’s Youth Farm Stands are the Brick City’s source for “Newark Fresh” produce grown in season on the Conservancy’s Court Street and Hawthorne Avenue urban farms. Now open and running till the harvest season ends in November, the farms stands provide affordable, nutritious and delicious locally grown produce for people who live, learn and work in Newark as well as opportunities for the city’s young people.

The Farm Stand program is run by student interns from the Conservancy’s Newark Youth Leadership Project (NYLP), a year-round job training and leadership development program for Newark high school students. NYLP interns manage the Farm Stand program under the direction of the Conservancy’s professional staff.

The Youth Farm Stands are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m., and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. till 6:30 p.m. at the Conservancy’s Outdoor Learning Center, entrance located on Broome Street. The Youth Farm stands accept many forms of payment including cash, credit and debit cards, checks made out to Greater Newark Conservancy, WIC vouchers, senior vouchers or SNAP benefits.

To see your produce fresh-picked, visit the Youth Farm Stand from 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. at Court Street Farm located at 138 Court Street behind the Krueger Scott Mansion or support the Youth Farm Stand at the newest farmer's market in town every Saturday at the corner of Ferry and St. Charles in the Ironbound. You can also find a Conservancy Youth Farm Stand at the Farmer’s Market held every Thursday at PSEG Plaza in downtown Newark. Check citybloom.org for the most current schedule/locations.

As part of the Garden State Good Food Network, customers can now shop at the Conservancy’s Youth Farm Stands using their Families First Cards and double the value of their purchase thanks to the incentives provided by the Garden State Good Food Network program. Similar farmers’ market incentive programs are now offered at more than 300 markets in over 26 states and Washington, D.C.

“NYLP student interns play an integral role in our expanding urban farming initiatives that are producing thousands of pounds of healthy and nutritious produce that are contributing to better nutrition for everyone from children to senior citizens in the City of Newark and beyond,” noted the Conservancy’s Executive Director, Robin Dougherty. “The program underscores the sustainability that is at the core of the Conservancy’s mission, with graduates of the program returning to serve as college mentors and becoming advocates for a greener and healthier communities.”

“NYLP helps Newark high school students get a head start on their future through job training experience, leadership development, exposure to different career options in environmental and horticultural fields and opportunities for pursuing a college education,” added Emmanuela Mujica, the Conservancy’s Director of Special Projects. “Student participants are major contributors at the Conservancy’s urban farms and farm stands, which provide unique hands-on experiences for inner-city youth. They learn to love healthy food, like our popular green juice, by making and selling it to the community. The Youth Farm Stands are truly creating a healthier Newark one green juice at a time.”

Contact Mujica at 973.642.4646, with questions about the Youth Farm Stand and NYLP programs. For more information about Greater Newark Conservancy’s other programs and services, to volunteer or to make a donation call 973.642.4646 or visit www.citybloom.org. You can also follow news from the Conservancy through social media at Facebook.com/GreaterNewarkConservancy plus Twitter and Instagram - @Citybloom87.