The Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets provide residents of low-income neighborhoods of Camden City the opportunity to purchase locally-grown, and affordable produce each week from May to October. Many of these neighborhoods have limited access to fresh and healthy food. Neighbors in these urban neighborhoods benefit from increased healthy food choices and family farmers from the rural area of New Jersey benefit from increased sales of their products.
The Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets accepts EBT/ Food Stamp benefits and offers a Double Value Coupon program to increase the amount of fresh local food low-income families and individuals can buy by matching all purchases made with EBT cards dollar for dollar.
Free health and social services are offered throughout the season. These services include free health and wellness checks, screenings and referrals provided by qualified medical personnel, disease and cancer awareness programs, assistance in applying for federal and state-funded supplemental health insurance and food assistance programs, and nutritional educational and cooking demonstrations.
2012 CAMDEN NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET SCHEDULE
Centerville: Antioch Baptist Church, 690 Ferry Avenue, Thursdays, 10am
Cramer Hill: 29th & River near Von Nieda Park, Fridays, 10am
East Camden: St. Joseph's Pro-Catholic , 2907 Federal Street, Fridays, 11:30am
Fairview: Collings & Alabama Streets near Freedom Academy, Thursdays, 4:30pm
North Camden: Northgate II, 500 N. 7th Street, Thursdays, 11:30am
North Camden: 3rd & State near Cooper's Poynt School, Thursdays, 2:30pm
Parkside: Park and Baird Blvds near Camden HS, Fridays, 2:30pm
Rutgers/Cooper Grant: Penn and Friends Streets, Thursdays 3pm
Waterfront South: at CFET, 1729 Ferry Ave, Fridays 4pm
NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET COMMUNITY PARTNERS
In 2011, the Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets made regular weekly stops at locations in the neighborhoods of North Camden, East Camden, Waterfront South , Cooper Grant and on the Rutgers University Camden Campus. We work closely with our community partners to set up each stop and make every market an exciting and welcoming location for the neighbors. In 2012 we will be expanding into four new neighborhoods in Camden including Fairview Village, Parkside, Centreville, and Cramer Hill.
To learn more about our community partners, please visit their web sites:
North Camden
RESPOND, Inc. , Northgate II Apartments
East Camden
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Carpenter Society, Hispanic Family Center
Waterfront South
The Center for Environmental Transformation, Heart of Camden CDC
Cooper Grant/Rutgers University Camden
Cooper Grant Neighborhood Association, Rutgers University Camden
Fairview Village
The Fairview Village Neighbors Association
Parkside
Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, Parkside United Methodist Church
NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Free health and social services are offered at the Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets throughout the season. This is a list of some of our community partners that provided services in 2011 free of charge:
The Camden Area Health Education Center Health Services Van provides a variety of health screenings, referrals and health-based information.
NJ FamilyCare provides information to individuals about this state program that provides affordable health coverage for kids and certain low-income parents/guardians.
Medical students from the University of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Osteopathic Medicine doing their Community Involvement Primary Care rotation provide free Wellness Checks including a basic physical exam and health assessment.
Clark Family Breast Cancer Services provide educational information about breast cancer including risk factors and the importance of self-breast exam and mammograms. They also refer people without insurance to programs where they can get mammograms.
The Food Bank of South Jersey sign up seniors for their Senior FMNP benefits and offer counseling on application for SNAP/Food Stamp benefits to qualified individuals.
PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMPBELL'S SOUP COMPANY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN CAMDEN
Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets is proud to have been selected to be a partner in the Campbells Soup Company Camden Childhood Hunger and Obesity Initiative, which is a 10-year, 10 million dollar investment by the Campbells Soup Company to reduce childhood obesity in Camden by 50%. As a partner with the initiative, Greensgrow actively participates as a team member with the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids and other Program Partners who are working on addressing the underlying issues that impact the health of Camden City children.
Program Partners
CATCH by YMCA of Burlington & Camden County
Corner Store Initiative by The Food Trust
Cooking Maters by Food Bank of South Jersey
Community Gardens by Camden City Garden Club
Grow Labs by Camden City Children's Garden
Nurse Family Partnership by Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers
SPECIAL COUPONS AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
As a special offer to customers who receive federal food assistance benefits, the Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets, in partnership with the Wholesome Wave Foundation, offers a Double Value Coupon incentive program to increase the amount of fresh local food low-income families and individuals can buy by matching all purchases made with EBT / Food Stamp benefits dollar for dollar.
In partnership with the Cooper Hospital Women's Health Clinic and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers the Neighborhood Markets accept "Produce Prescriptions" provided to patients by doctors and dieticians at Cooper Hospital as part of an innovative program designed to improve the diets of young mothers.
USDA GRANT FOR 2012
The Greensgrow Farm Neighborhood Markets received a US Department of Agriculture Farmers' Market Promotion Program Grant to assist in the expansion of operations in 2012 to four new neighborhoods in Camden including Fairview, Parkside, Cramer Hill and Centerville.
SIGN UP FOR CSA DELIVERY IN CAMDEN
The Neighborhood Markets will also be delivering the Greensgrow Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares to Camden City in 2012! To find out more click here!
IN THE PRESS
Farmer's Market On Wheels: Camden Gets Much-Needed Fresh Food With Help From State, Greensgrow Farms.
Philadelphia Inquirer July 7, 2011
Over the Bridge: Greensgrow Brings Fresh Produce to Camden
Grid Magazine, July 2011
Eat well. Eat local.