GrowNYC Youthmarket Farmstand Sprouts Saturday July 9

The GrowNYC Youthmarket will leaf out Saturday July 9 at 9 a.m. on the plaza in front of the Windsor Terrace Public Library, located on Ft. Hamilton Parkway between E. 4th and E. 5 streets. This is the first harvest from seeds planted several years ago by Kensington residents and tenderly nurtured by Jessica Turner, Kensington Liaison for Councilmember Brad Lander, and Olivia Blanchflower, Grow NYC’s Youthmarket coordinator. They have taken a while to germinate.

At its July debut the Youthmarket will feature “very fresh” produce from regional producers bought at a wholesale greenmarket, Olivia Blanchflower said. Unlike a Greenmarket, no farmers will be present. Most likely the items will include a selection of lettuces (at least 2), and vegetables and fruits in season.

Really a farm stand, the Youthmarket will hire two or three young people recruited from the neighborhood to work the stand. The teenagers will be paid from funds supplied jointly by Family Cook Productions and Brad Lander’s office. In addition, a GrowNYC manager will be there each Saturday to supervise. And sometime during the summer expect a “Teen Iron Chef” since Family Cook Productions trains the teenagers to cook and demonstrate healthy food recipes at the Youthmarket.

Fresh-cut flowers and other items might also be up for consideration later in the season if market is successful, but sanitation requirements preclude having fresh-caught fish and cheese the first season. Councilmember Brad Lander’s office plans to announce its projects director and release more detailed plans for the market in late April. Meanwhile, over 16 people have volunteered to help and will be contacted once plans have sprouted.