GrowNYC Youthmarket opens in Far Rockaway
BY BILL PARRY
The Rockaway Youth Task
Force joined with Councilman
Donovan Richards and
representatives of the city’s
Economic Development
Corporation to launch
GrowNYC’s Youthmarket
Farmstand in Far Rockaway.
As a key milestone of
the city’s Downtown Far
Rockaway rezoning, the
farmstand will empower
young people in the
community to develop their
entrepreneurial skills.
“GrowNYC’s first
Youthmarket in Downtown
Far Rockaway not only
delivers on one of the
rezoning’s commitments,
but it also empowers our
youth to be the leaders in our
community while providing
access to fresh, locally grown
produce,” Richards said.
Through GrowNYC’s
Youthmarket Farmstand
program, young people sell
fresh fruits and vegetables
from local farms while
learning about health,
nutrition, the environment
and regional agriculture.
Photos courtesy of the Downtown Far Rockaway Youthmarket
In addition to teaching
participants about promotion,
merchandising and
customer service skills, the
Youthmarket will increase
the availability of fresh
produce in Far Rockaway.
“The expansion of the
Youthmarket shows that
we are making good on our
promise to Downtown Far
Rockaway,” said James
Patchett, NYCEDC president
and CEO. “This unique
program will teach young
people how to run a small
business while bringing new
vibrancy and opportunity to
the neighborhood.”
The Youthmarket
program’s expansion to the
neighborhood is part of the
Downtown Far Rockaway
rezoning and Roadmap
for Action, a $288 million
neighborhood revitalization
initiative. The Roadmap
for Action was developed in
response to recommendations
from the Downtown Far
Rockaway Working Group
and includes efforts from a
range of city agencies, and
investment in infrastructure,
parks, community facilities,
housing resources and smallbusiness
support.
The Youthmarket is
located at 1002-1004 Beach
320th St. and it operates every
Saturday until Nov. 23 from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m.
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by email at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
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