Let's Reclaim Food in Bed-Stuy This Year

There’s no reason to protest Foodtown’s quality and prices [video] or lament the lack of good food options in Bed-Stuy when we are perfectly capable of providing for ourselves the kind of quality, service, and consistency we desire. 

Eating is a political act, so show your solidarity with Bed-Stuy-based business owners and community orgs who live and work in the neighborhood and are vested in building a vibrant, self-sustaining community. 

Remind the shop owners who’s serving whom by demanding better quality goods and service, and take your money elsewhere (within the neighborhood), when they don’t comply. 

Our neighborhood community development corporations are sitting on money for entrepreneurs, so get your business plans and your finances in order and open up the kinds of establishments you want to see in Bed-Stuy. 

We have plenty of good food options here from home grown takeout to casual dining, so the next time you’re wondering where to eat, consider Bed-Stuy Fish Fry, Crave, Peaches, Beso, Saraghina, Celestino, Halsey St. Grill, Hothouse, Joloff, Sud, Bombay Heights, Black Swan, Le Toukouleur, Corlette, Melanie’s, Jeffrey’s, and everyone else I can’t think of as I write this. And don’t forget our coffee, wine, bakeries, and pastry shops. 

The Good Food season is upon us, so be on the lookout for Bed-Stuy Farm Share, Malcolm X Blvd Farmer’s Market, Hattie Carthan Community Market, and newcomer Bed-Stuy Bounty to announce membership and volunteer opportunities. Let’s help them grow by being more than just a consumer and get involved. 

Food pantries like the ones provided by Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, St. John’s Bread and Life, and Brooklyn Rescue Mission have been growing vegetables and working with regional farmers over the years to provide fresh, quality produce for folks with limited means. 

You can learn to grow your own food this year by joining or starting a community garden or growing at home using available space in your backyard, rooftop, fire escape, or sunny windowsill. If you have a backyard, raise chickens for eggs. Learn to make bread, cheese, and preserve fresh vegetables by putting them up or freezing them and watch your food bill go down.  

You can purchase seeds with SNAP benefits, everyone can work towards self-sufficiency, even if you only manage to grow only one thing.  

But remember, higher quality and better service comes with a higer price, so don't shortchange independent business owners by expecting them to maintain a standard with low prices. They have a livelihood to maintain as well. 

We make time/money for the things we want/value, so if we want good food and better options it’s time we stop making excuses and put our money where our mouths, hands, and feet are to grow the neighborhood we can continue to be proud of.