MOTT HAVEN — Bronxites tired of fast food just got another place to grab some fresh vegetables.
Hostos Community College officially launched the Hostos Greenmarket on Tuesday, a new farmers market in the borough and the first major one to open at the school.
Fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, herbs, honey, baked goods, plants and candles will be available from five producers and farmers based in upstate New York, and the market will also regularly collect food scraps for composting.
“Hostos recognizes its responsibility to be a leader in educating our community about healthy eating, as well as providing healthy eating alternatives," College President David Gómez said in a statement. "We are confident the Hostos Greenmarket will be a huge success for the college and South Bronx residents."
The market is open every Tuesday through Nov. 24 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at 149th Street and Grand Concourse.
It was launched in partnership with GrowNYC and is meant to support Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s #Not62 campaign for a healthier Bronx, a hashtag initiative he discussed in his 2015 State of the Borough address in response to studies that ranked The Bronx 62nd out of New York's 62 counties for certain health indicators.
"This new greenmarket is a great addition to our #Not62 campaign for a healthier Bronx, and I am proud to be a part of this launch," said Diaz, who attended the official launch of the market. "A greenmarket can be a major contributor to that healthier lifestyle."
Michael Hurwitz, GrowNYC's greenmarket director, said he was confident that their new spot at Hostos would do well.
"We are very optimistic," he said. "We think it’s a great location and a tremendous partner."
