Community Health

Outdoor produce market feeds local community

By Alexia Mena

As soon as she stepped through the community garden’s front gates, Jhovana Samano paused to admire the native wildflowers growing along the path.

After the COVID-19 pandemic left her stranded at home and out of work, the garden went from just being a tranquil spot in the neighborhood to being a food source she relied on. 

“I joined … because I didn’t have any money and I couldn’t work,” Samono said, explaining her membership in a Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens program that lets her pick up fruits and vegetables at prices generally lower than at grocery stores. It also introduces local residents to community gardens, which rely heavily on volunteers.

“It was a very good way for me to know that I didn’t have to worry about food,” she added.    

The 50-year-old lives down the block from De Colores Community Yard & Cultural Center on East Eighth Street, one of the Loisaida gardens, where she picks up food almost every week during the summer. 

“People use it very, very much, every week. And it saves them a lot of money and time,” said Charles Krezell, president of the neighborhood gardens organization, which oversees 52 community supported agriculture gardens — commonly called CSAs — throughout the Lower East Side.

Since starting 14 years ago, the nonprofit gardens have been helping some New Yorkers lessen their grocery bills. Every Friday, $15 bags containing one fruit and six seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, beets, and cucumbers are sold.

Over the past decade, food prices have risen by 40.8%, according to the federal consumer price index. For people like Samano, who doesn’t qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps, the CSA fills a gap. 

“My income bracket isn’t considered low … I can’t apply for help with groceries or anything. So, this is very helpful.” she said. 

Shoppers who don’t take advantage of the community gardens sometimes find their own ways to save money. Joyce Rajman, 60, discussed food costs as she passed through the open, automatic doors at Whole Foods with a bag of groceries. 

Prices determine what ends up in her bag. With $20 to $50 a week to spend on groceries, Rajman often skips blackberries, raspberries and other produce when prices at her local Whole Foods or Costco are higher than she can afford. 

“When I go to Whole Foods I tend to buy when it’s on sale. They have, like, seasonal sales. For example, yesterday, I bought lettuce that was fifty percent off. And that was $3.99 … with the fifty percent off,” she said.    

Krezell said he hopes individuals who cannot afford grocery stores will see the community gardens as an alternative. But the gardens also appeal to residents in other ways.

“They see that the garden is a welcoming place,” Krezell said. “And it’s community-oriented … to come in and sit for a few minutes and enjoy the garden.”  

Preserving the gardens is another priority, especially considering that many are located in areas developers view as potential real estate. 

“They’re just really eager to get their hands on it,” said Krezell, mentioning protests aimed at preserving the city’s green spaces. “ … And if we feel a threat, we’re going to demonstrate … ”