Support Your Local Good Food Fighters

Farmer’s Market Season is upon us, do you know where your neighborhood good food markets are?

Here’s a list of good food options (fresh, locally grown and/or organic produce and quality packaged foods) in Bed-Stuy:

Bed-Stuy Farm Share: Now in its sixth year, the all-volunteer led Bed-Stuy Farm Share has introduced farmers to residents through the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, a type of buying club that gives members a stakeholder relationship with the farmer. Members pay the farmer before the season starts, and the farmer makes weekly deliveries to drop off points throughout Bed-Stuy. The summer/fall season lasts 22 weeks from June through November, and members can choose to join for a full season or pick up every other week. They offer payment plans for members who are not able to pay in full, and also accept SNAP (EBT), WIC, and SSI as payment. This year’s drop-off locations are Wednesday evenings at a house on Quincy Street off of Marcus Garvey, Saturday mornings at the Y, and there’s also the possibility of a third location on Lewis Avenue near Macon (with enough demand). Visit www.bedstuyfarmshare.org to learn more about membership and to join online.

Green Gourmet Deli: Formerly L&H market, this bodega recently changed hands and the new owner has spent the past couple of months making upgrades to the store, including electrical upgrades, new coolers, and new shelving. Green Gourmet became a “Star Bodega” when they signed up to participate in the Department of Health’s Healthy Bodega Initiative last year, and went on to become one of the five “Fresh Bodegas” through a joint partnership between Greenmarket and Red Jacket Orchards, a sixth-generation orchard in the Finger Lakes region of NY. In addition to a growing selection of organic produce, dairy, and eggs, they carry snacks, beverages, and other foods that are locally-sourced and health-minded. They recently set up shelving outside the store, so be on the lookout for a larger produce (and maybe even flowers) offering this summer. Green Gourmet Deli is located on the corner of Lewis Avenue at Halsey Street.

Tin City Drug & General Store: Tin City opened last summer to open arms, bringing much needed natural beauty, body, and cleaning products to Lewis Avenue. They carry a range of natural, organic, and locally-sourced foods, including co-owner Saratu’s own red stew, a spicy tomato-based sauce I’ve been putting on EVERYTHING. Tin City Drug & General Store is located at 366 Lewis Avenue between Macon & Halsey Streets.

African People’s Farmer’s Market: Founded in response to an incident between black customers and a Korean grocer, concerned residents galvanized to create a volunteer-led market to serve the needs of their community. African People’s Farmer’s Market is located 456 Nostrand Avenue off Jefferson. Call 718 398 1766 for more information.

Cinnamon Girl: Cinnamon Girl opened quietly last year and has quickly become the neighborhood go-to for vegan baked goods, fresh pasta, and organic dairy items.  Cinnamon Girl is located at 277 Nostrand Avenue between Lafayette & Clifton Avenues.

Opening this summer:

Bed-Stuy has had a farmers market presence for more than five years. If you’d like these markets to stay, you have to support them by shopping regularly and offering your feedback, which may also mean volunteering some of your time to keep them going.

The following markets are community markets, which means they have been created for the community by members who live and work in the community.

Weeksville Farmers Market

runs from June-October

Bergen Street between Buffalo and Rochester

Weeksville Heritage Center, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of free African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn (now Crown Heights or Bed-Stuy, depending on who you ask), offers cultural programs that connect visitors to Brooklyn history, African American heritage, and contemporary art and civic program.

Hattie Carthan Community Market

runs July-November

Clifton place off Marcy Avenue

Yonnette Fleming, Market Director and Vice President of the Hattie Carthan Community Garden, has been building community around food and wellness in Bed-Stuy for almost ten years. A true community market, the Hattie Carthan Community Market is a mix of community garden growers and farmers from the region. Last year, they introduced chickens to their garden, and nothing beats eggs straight from the hen (no pun intended) and check out their calendar of events. Hattie Carthan Garden and Market welcomes volunteeers.

Malcolm X Boulevard Community Farmers Market

runs July-November

Malcolm X Boulevard between Chauncey & Marion Streets

Food Change Agents Revs. Robert & Devanie Jackson have received international acclaim for working to change the food system on a grassroots level through their nonprofit, Brooklyn Rescue Mission. Not satisfied with city donations to their food pantry, the Jacksons began growing their own food in their backyard and later expanded to an empty lot. Bed-Stuy Farm produces over 7,000 pounds of food each year which is distributed through their pantry, CSA, and the farmer’s market.