New Organic Fruit & Veggie Pop-Up With A Choice To Pay It Forward

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The city's newest business is thriving by bringing farm fresh organic foods directly to customers regardless of their ability to pay.

Marion Henson first pitched her idea of "Bloom Boxes" filled with fresh organic fruits to the Westchester County Office of Economic Development's Launch1000 Program in November. The Mount Vernon native also expressed a vision to make the staples of a nutritious diet available to upscale and low income customers alike.

Now, Henson has set up shop at 595 Main Street inside the now-closed historic Loew's Theater. At "Bloom Healthy," customers can purchase boxes of fresh produce for themselves or pay it forward and buy a box for someone in need. On the shop's first day, there were already 40 online orders with half of them pay it forward boxes.

"I have a real love of the community," Henson said. "I know there are different groups of people here in New Rochelle, from those who are food insecure and those who are not. I wanted to help wherever I could."

Bloom Healthy founder Marion Henson knows it takes a village to build a community-based business. (Office of the Westchester County Executive)

Henson connected with other local entrepreneurs through the county's Launch1000 Program. Her newfound peers volunteered to pack boxes and even provide food from their garden.

"It's truly unbelievable how the richness of people's life experiences have become so accessible through this program," Westchester County Economic Development Office's Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Deborah Novick said. "With so many launchers participating, and sharing their expertise, there is magic happening within this program, which provides encouragement, support and networking. It is such a benefit to offer training to make a living while continuing to build the economy. To see Bloom Healthy literally just bloom, is inspirational."

Henson chose New Rochelle to start her business because she is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle and connected with the neighborhoods in the city. Her fledgling business has since attracted admirers from far beyond the city limits.

"Ms. Henson's business is more than a business," Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. "It's a community partnership. Here's an entrepreneur that absorbed the resources of the Launch1000 Program to give back and it's heartwarming to see so many people taking to task the idea of helping others have nutritious meals."

Sign up to purchase or provide a Bloom Box by clicking here. Pick-ups are every Wednesday and Friday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.