Trenton
September 6, 2019
The Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market (GAFM) is a vibrant urban market celebrating its fifth year of operation in Trenton. The market is a product of policy and environmental work done by the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton (NJPHK-T), which was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Capital Area YMCA has been the operational arm of the market throughout its five years of existence, supported by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. In 2014 Marissa Davis, Project Director of NJPHK-T and Beth Feehan, employed by the Farm-to-Home initiative for the NJ Department of Agriculture, were standing in their office on Greenwood Avenue dreaming about transforming an unused lot next door into a beautiful fresh fruit and vegetable market. That dream became a reality the following summer. Each Monday community farmers, Isles and Norz Farm in Hillsborough, bring locally-grown produce and other healthy food products to Trenton residents. The […]
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June 7, 2018
Winter is finally over, and June is in full bloom! While local crops and produce are ripening, farmers and communities are gearing up for another Farmers Market season. New Jersey is proud to host a number of community markets during the month of June. Farmers Markets help residents gain access to fresh foods, support healthy communities, and increase revenue for local Jersey Fresh farms. Four markets in New Jersey are bringing fresh local food to the communities that need them most. The market accepts SNAP benefits, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Vouchers, Senior vouchers and Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Vouchers (WIC). If you’re in Mercer County, Check out the Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market in Trenton Location: 427 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08609 (behind the Trenton Transit Center) Open every Monday (except holidays) from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm from June 11th, 2018 – October 15th, 2018 The […]
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June 7, 2018
Thanks to Ready, Set, Healthy!™, a Novo Nordisk-Sponsored Program, 11 Trenton families spent Mother’s Day weekend at Frost Valley YMCA, in the Catskill Mountains of New York, enjoying a variety of indoor and outdoor activities focused on healthy eating, gardening and physical fitness. In total, 20 children and 11 adults, from two-months-old to age 67, took part in the weekend. Families were hands-on in the greenhouse and garden, learning about soil conservation, composting, planting, mulching and growing. Everyone got their own flowers to plant and take home so they can watch them grow. A bit of rain could not stop the kids from riding the zipline, which towers 120 feet in the air and requires walking up three flights of stairs to the launch. Children under age eight were safely harnessed into the flying squirrel, a kind of “mini-zip line” with a lower altitude. Other outdoor adventures […]
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April 12, 2018
Individuals ranging from farmers to state officials came together during two Farmers Markets Conferences on Monday, March 26 in West Windsor and Wednesday, April 4 at the Ironbound Early Learning Center in Newark. The goal was to provide information about the benefits and opportunities available for Jersey Farmers’ Markets. More than 50 representatives from farmers markets, as well as local farms and vendors, attended the West Windsor Conference. And, another 100-people attended Newark’s Urban Farmer’s Market Conference held at Ironbound Community Corporation. Ironbound Community Corporation Executive Director Joe Della Fave opened the conference stating, “We need more uplifting and less uprooting of people in our urban centers.” The Conferences were designed to advance the opportunities and address the barriers involved in cultivating a thriving farmers market. Conference segments included: a panel of local farmers, as well as discussion topics related to USDA/NJ SNAP/WIC eligibility, and tips and strategies to help […]
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February 12, 2018
More Trenton children and youth will be able to enjoy a hot dinner, five-days-a-week at their after-school programs thanks to a grant from YMCA of the USA and reimbursement dollars from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The complimentary meals are offered to children and youth ages 18 and under. Currently, about 135 city children are served dinner daily as part of after-school programs at the Trenton YMCA and Martin Luther King Elementary. “The additional funds have allowed the program to expand to also include three city-operated community centers,” said Khadijah McQueen, Food Access Coordinator at the Trenton YMCA. “We hope to provide meals to a total of 750 children and youth daily by June 2018.” The Y also wants to provide dinners for kids at local housing developments. Planning for that initiative is underway with the hope to include two developments this year and add more in each year […]
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February 12, 2018
The New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative will kick off 2018 with its Heart Smarts program at the New Way Deli Market 617 MLK Blvd in Trenton, NJ from 10 AM – 12 PM. The Heart Smarts program includes nutrition education, free blood pressure screenings and $4 in Heart Bucks to use on heart-healthy store items. The free program will be held every 3rd Wednesday beginning February 21 through September 19th. The program is sponsored by Novo Nordisk, with support from The Food Trust, Capital Health and New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SHARE:
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January 16, 2018
The Trenton Healthy Corner Store Network hosted Mercer County Freeholder & President/CEO of the Trenton YMCA Sam Frisby; Mercer County Freeholder Anthony Verrelli; legislative staff from Assemblyman Reed Gusciora’s Office; and other local officials on a site visit at New Way Deli Market in Trenton (617 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) on December 12, 2017. The tour showcased the positive impact healthy corner stores like New Way Deli Market are making to increase people’s access to affordable, healthy food, as well as bolster economic development efforts by capturing retail dollars that would otherwise be spent outside of the community. The visit also featured the store’s new Heart Smarts program that includes on-site nutrition lessons and health screenings that are made available with support from Novo Nordisk. The Trenton Healthy Corner Store Network was launched by the Trenton YMCA in 2012 and is part of a larger statewide effort of the […]
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November 7, 2017
The Lucky Star Deli on Tyler Street in Trenton is an oasis in a true food desert. Recognizing the importance of offering healthy choices to her customers, store owner Alexsa Zayas was an early and enthusiastic participant in Trenton’s Corner Store Initiative. Zayas once had weight issues of her own so she recognized the importance of bringing wholesome food to the neighborhood. Moreover, Zayas appreciated the education that comes along with being a healthy corner store. “There’s a general lack of knowledge about healthy food, so the education customers receive is very important,” Zayas said. Lucky Star Deli enrolled in the Trenton Healthy Corner Store Network at the start of the initiative in 2014. This year, when The Food Trust expanded the Healthy Corner Store Network with support from Novo Nordisk and introduced Heart Smarts and Health Screenings in Trenton, Lucky Star was chosen as one of four Heart Smarts […]
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November 7, 2017
[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”16″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_imagebrowser” ajax_pagination=”1″ template=”default” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″] The Greenwood Ave. Farmers Market wrapped up another successful season with their third annual Harvest Fest on Monday October 23, 2017. Open to all ages, Harvest Fest featured fall-themed food tastings, giveaways, games, and activities. Safe trick-or-treating and healthy tips for Halloween were shared with parents. Market-goers also enjoyed a Halloween mask decorating and temporary vegetable tattoos courtesy of Harvest Tattoos. Volunteers from TCNJ were on site to help with activities including pumpkin putt-putt, an apple basket toss, pumpkin painting, and the chance to guess the weight of a large pumpkin. Each child had the opportunity to collect stamps in a passport and win prizes as they visited each Harvest Fest booth. Kitchen aprons, fall-centric recipes, and cases of canned water were free to customers who made a purchase at the market. “Our residents see the Greenwood Ave. Farmers […]
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October 2, 2017
Marissa Davis, project director for NJPHK-Trenton, was recently appointed to the Mercer County Park Commission board. Started in 1958, the Mercer County Park Commission was established to acquire land for recreational facilities throughout Mercer County to meet the need of the growing population. Davis is one of nine commissioners who is charged with promoting and encouraging outdoor recreation, as well as keeping the parks clean and accessible for all residents. “I’m honored to serve with a group of people that work diligently to improve the culture of health for Mercer County residents. We understand the need for family-friendly parks in our community,” said Davis. Today, Mercer County has nine parks where thousands of residents enjoy the outdoors each year. The Mercer County Parks Commission holds public meetings the last Wednesday of the month where residents are encouraged to attend to provide feedback and offer suggestions for improvement. SHARE:
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