GrowNYC, New York State and New York
City break ground on regional food hub
BY JASON COHEN
With the largest food distribution
center in the world
located in Hunts Point, many
might wonder why south
Bronx residents struggle to
fi nd healthy food. Well, that
will soon change.
On March 24, a groundbreaking
took place for the
New York State Regional
Food Hub (The Hub), a joint
state and city project. This
will be the fi rst-of-its-kind,
a publicly funded food hub
dedicated to supporting regional
farmers.
In attendance at the event
were members of the New
York City Economic Development
Corporation, GrowNYC,
Lieutenant Governor Kathy
Hochul, Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr., Councilman
Rafael Salamanca and Congressman
Ritchie Torres.
“We are tremendously
grateful to and thankful for
State and City leaders, and
all supporters of this project,
who share our vision
to provide access to fresh,
healthy food to all New Yorkers
while strengthening regional
agriculture,” Marcel
Van Ooyen, president and
CEO of GrowNYC said. “I’m
so happy to see this day when
we break ground on the Hub,
which will not only hugely
impact our ability benefi t local
farmers and underserved
New Yorkers, but will also
serve as an example of how
cities.”
The 60,000-square-foot
cold-storage facility, located
on a 135,000-square-foot lot
in Hunts Point, will allow
GrowNYC to increase the
amount of food they distribute
to 20 million pounds,
benefi tting local farmers
and underserved New York
communities, create 79 additional
living-wage jobs and
improving the capability to
respond to potential future
emergency food needs for
New Yorkers.
Salamanca’s late father
was a Teamsters Local 202 at
the Hunts Point Market. The
lawmaker recalled how as a
kid he would go to work with
his dad and was in awe of
how much food he saw.
Archcare at
Providence Rest
nursing home hosts
Easter parade for
elderly residents
BRONX TIMES R 44 EPORTER, APRIL 2-8, 2021 BTR
But, as he got older, the
councilman began to wonder
why that area had such
a challenge fi nding food
with the fi sh, produce and
meat market right there. He
stressed that when he speaks
to people in the community
one of their biggest complaints
is lack of access to
healthy food.
Salamanca, who allocated
$1.45 million in for the hub
is eager for it to come to the
south Bronx.
“I applaud GrowNYC’s
continued commitment to expanding
access to healthy food
options, especially during the
pandemic, and look forward to
working with them in my district
and beyond to promote
a healthier lifestyle in New
York City,” Salamanca said.
The hub is projected to be
complete in 18 months.
Elected offi cials break ground on a new food distribution center in Hunts
Point. Photo by Jason Cohen
BY ARCHCARE
ArchCare at Providence
Rest, a fi ve-star
rated facility providing
care to individuals and
families in the Bronx,
is hosting its fi rst-ever
Easter Parade to safely
celebrate the holiday
with residents and staff.
Sporting homemade Easter
bonnets with individualized
decorations,
residents will parade the
halls to music and cheers,
with refreshments to follow.
Each unit in the 200-
bed skilled nursing and
rehabilitation center will
participate, with one or
two socially-distanced
parades planned per
day from Friday, April
2 to Monday, April 5. Select
parades will be livestreamed
for loved ones
at home to join virtually.
The Easter bonnet parades
are part of a larger
commitment at Providence
Rest to continue offering
opportunities for
community building and
safe socialization however
possible. Throughout
the pandemic, residents
have participated
in weekly bingo games,
trivia nights, and dance
parties with portable
Bluetooth speakers. A carer and patient look forward to celebrating.