Kohlrabi, Radishes and Scallions, Oh My!: The Youthmarket is Back
By Henry Street Settlement
Never eaten a Kohlrabi? Don’t know what to do with scallions? Well don’t worry, as of today you will have a summer full of opportunities to become acquainted with odd branches of the Brassica family and long onion-like greens. The Lower East Side Youthmarket — a farm stand operated by Henry Street youth — is back for another year! The market is held on Thursdays from 1 to 7 p.m. in front of the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street) and will run until November 21. The young adults who operate the stands are graduates of Henry Street’s Project Rise, a 6 month employment program that provides disengaged youth with access to GED classes, work readiness workshops, and a subsidized internship.
Youthmarket, a program of GrowNYC, is a network of urban farm stands operated by neighborhood youth, supplied by local farmers and designed to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to communities throughout New York City. Through the Youthmarket, families on the Lower East Side have increased access to farm fresh food; the Henry Street youth earn money and learn small-business skills; and farmers in the New York City region can earn revenue through access to underserved markets.
GrowNYC, home of the Greenmarket farmers market program, works with community partner organizations to establish Youthmarkets throughout the city, providing planning, development, and operational oversight, and sources fresh, locally grown produce from regional farmers. Each community partner, of which Henry Street is one, hires and employs youth, provides market locations and publicity, and serves as the crucial link between the Youthmarket program and the community. Henry Street’s Lower East Side Youthmarket is the only one located in Manhattan.
Youthmarket’s training program prepares young people to plan and operate a farm-stand business while educating them about their health, their community, nutrition, the environment and regional agriculture. The training program also educates youth to think critically about the food in their bodegas and supermarkets and the alternative benefits of eating locally produced fruits and vegetables. On the operational side, Youthmarket business training focuses on promotion, merchandising and customer service.
