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December 19, 2007
Yes, We Have No Bananas: More Fruit Stands for Brooklyn
The city wants Brooklyn to eat its veggies, and it’s pushing legislation that would result in 500 permits for fruit and vegetable carts in Kings County over the next two years. Operation “Green Cart” is aimed at neighborhoods (mostly low-income) where Health Department surveys show more than 10 percent of adults aren’t eating fruits or vegetables on a daily basis. For example, one city study found that Bedford Stuyvesant and Bushwick have low supplies of fresh produce and low-fat milk. "Access to healthy foods varies widely throughout New York City, and in many lower-income neighborhoods, supermarkets are few and far between. There is demand for fruits and vegetables in these neighborhoods, and this regulatory change will enable the market to meet that demand," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The Green Cart legislation will also provide opportunities for vendors to make a living selling fresh fruits and vegetables in communities where healthy food can be difficult to find." Sound like a plan?
City Program Brings Produce to Outer Boroughs [Crain's]
NYC Proposes More Fruit, Vegetable Carts [AP]
Press Release [nyc.gov]
Photo by cameron.
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Comments
Sounds like a great plan.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:13 AM
Yup, very smart. I'm so sick of hearing how healthy food is the bastion of the rich. You can snack on 5 bananas or four apples for a buck.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:28 AM
I agree, it is a great idea. Better quality fruits and vegetables are the keys to better health in any community. I applaud Bloomberg’s continued and unique plans to improve the life's of NYers.
A ClintonHillLady
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:29 AM
Great common sense and whoever thought of this is not a politician nor a doctor. Maybe a lawyer. A banana a day will keep the doctor away. On the whole, this is healthy essential diet for the humankind.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:34 AM
it would have been nice if the photo was of a Brooklyn-based fruit stand.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:46 AM
A noble effort, but I'm not so convinced it will work. My experience has been that the quality of the fruit in those carts is not that great. Not that it's bad or spoiled or anything--just not that flavorful, like fruit that's been picked way before ripening. And if the fruit's not that tasty, then fast food and candy bars will continue to be preferable... I'd rather see a push for more farmers markets--locally grown produce that doesn't have to travel unripe tastes so much better. (But isn't always as cheap, I think...)
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:48 AM
Hell, we have to start somewhere!
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 9:59 AM
I think that it's a great idea. To 9:48 the fruit cart outside of my office is a handy (and cheap, also agree with 9:28) place for a healthy, quick snack.
I like farmers' markets too, but let's face it: they aren't the most affordable alternative. The quality is good, and maybe their prices better reflect all the factors in growing and transporting food, but in low income neighborhoods, I think that quantity will win out.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:13 AM
I disagree with 9:48 whole(foods)heartely. I find "organic" fruit bland as they come, for the most part, and some fruit, like organic avocado, inedible. Just because it has that fancy label, doesn't mean it's not mass-produced, pre-ripened crap.
I used to be an organic snob because I do believe it's better for us and our environment not to poison everything with pesticides and genetic modification. But I want my food to taste good too!
And there isn't a snotty grocer or farmer's market vendor who can beat my fruit stand man's papayas, bananas, avocados, mangos or grapefruit (in season only) in terms of flavor. I have no idea where they get their stuff, but it's worth way more than the overpriced farmers/boutique stuff.
The only thing I get anymore at the fancy ass places are lettuce and heirloom tomatoes (in season), and I only get that at Eli's where he actually does have flavorful stuff.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:24 AM
BRAVO! I have often fantasized about a 'Fruit Shack' chain of fast-food outlets that would bring easy-to-eat chopped fruit salads, smoothies, dried fruit mixes, etc. to every inner-city neighborhood. (Research shows that people are very discouraged by having to peel an orange or even eat an apple out of hand, sigh.) This would be a start. Can't count the number of times I've grabbed a 50-cent "lunch" of a nice ripe banana from one of those carts in Manhattan, or even a head of broccoli to take home on the train to go with dinner.
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at December 19, 2007 10:25 AM
Who's the hot mamma in the blue dress!?!?!?!?
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:28 AM
This is 9:48 again. In response to 10:24, I am most decidedly *not* an all-organic or fancypants grocer snob. (In fact, aside from the farmers market, I happily do most of my grocery shopping at Key Food.) And if you've found good quality produce at your local fruit stand, that's great--I hope that's the case more widely, although it mostly hasn't been my experience. I guess I'm just saying it's *awfully* hard to change the eating habits and tastes of people who aren't already eating fresh fruits and vegs. (I know, I live with one of them.) I'm not sure that making the produce more accessible is enough--something's got to make it more appealing as well...
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:32 AM
What has this got to do with brownstones?
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:32 AM
Will be a beautiful mix of the urban and the rural. Colorful fruits and veggies will line up the streets, and more carts means more competition. Not to sound pollyanish, but maybe more affordable prices and more jobs for other people, too.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:33 AM
Organic Schmorganic, they're overrated.
I go through the pile of fruits and veggies and look for the good ones, then wash them very well before cooking/eating. Hardly buy bottled water, but I do when necessary. NYC filtered tap water is excellent. It's healthier and cheaper.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:49 AM
10:32
It has nothing to do with Brownstones but everything to do with the folks who live in them!!!
A ClintonHillLady
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 10:58 AM
10:28 She's a milf.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:02 AM
I can't wait to get my green card. This is an excellent program for our neighborhood.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:02 AM
Ironic that fruit carts were at one time ASSOCIATED with low-income neighborhods. A very good idea.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:03 AM
They should not only have just the fresh fruit and veg, but some of those smoothie and shake carts that make fresh fruit and veg smoothies. Lots of kid (and may adults too) don't really like to eat the whole fruit or veg, but would drink it juiced.
I picked up a smoothie for breakfast from a cart after I got off subway in Manhattan. Have a cold and felt the need for a mega vitiam C blast.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:03 AM
I think this is a good idea, especially for communities that are not well served by good produce markets, like Crown Heights and Bed Stuy. I find the local green grocers are getting better, their quality is sporadic, however. Most of them do ok with veggies like collard greens, carrots, yams, and imported Caribbean fruits and vegetables, but they never seem to be able to get good basic leaf lettuce, tomatoes, and local fruits, like apples, pears, even grapes and citrus. I always had the feeling they ended up buying the picked over goods for our communities. The exotic imports are not desired by more upscale communities, so those tend to be first rate, and not picked over.
I find the produce at Super Foodtown to be the all around best in the neighborhood, and I get my fresh tomatoes, lettuces and other salad greens at green markets, or stands wherever I happen to be. Sadly, even the greengrocers in both BS and CH are dwindling. We have about half the amount we had when I moved into the area twenty years ago. Our community definitely needs more fresh and healthy produce.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 19, 2007 11:17 AM
Where can residents of Myrtle Ave near Flatbush shop? We walk very far to get to supermarkets with our push carts.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:21 AM
Bring on the Carts! The mere presence of easily available fruit encourages and increases it's consuption. Let them eat fruit!
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:24 AM
"They should not only have just the fresh fruit and veg, but some of those smoothie and shake carts that make fresh fruit and veg smoothies. Lots of kid (and may adults too) don't really like to eat the whole fruit or veg, but would drink it juiced."
How about coffee carts, too? And sidewalk salmon carts! What about a steak restaurant cart? And.....
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 11:45 AM
How about a guy on the street with a cow and a butcher knife. Rare, yum.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 1:01 PM
where do these vendors go to the bathroom?
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 4:24 PM
Retail rents are increasing therefore making it more difficult for low-profit margin businesses like grocers to stay in business.
With fruit and vegetable stands, the high rents aren't applicable so this is a good idea.
They now need to diversify their offerings and not have only the same basics.
Posted by: guest at December 19, 2007 4:45 PM
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