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Harlem Program Offers Free Fruit and Vegetables to Community

 Volunteers work at Castle Gardens in West Harlem to fill bags of produce for residents in the food-give-a-way program.
Volunteers work at Castle Gardens in West Harlem to fill bags of produce for residents in the food-give-a-way program.
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DNAinfo/Dartunorro Clark

HARLEM — Wednesdays at 3 p.m. are primetime for fresh produce.

Like clockwork, long lines wrap around the block at the Castle Gardens, at 140th Street and Riverside Drive, as hundreds of West Harlem residents wait to pick up a bag of farm-fresh goods.

The program is one of many run by the Fortune Society, an organization that provides services to formerly incarcerated men and women. The food give-a-way program, however, is for the entire community.

“It’s really become an important source for them in terms of something that they can rely on,” said Jaime McBeth, the manager of the organization’s food and nutrition program.

“They really can’t buy that quality of produce from around here.”

The organization estimates that food insecurity is as high as 27 percent in northern Manhattan and said it is poised to distribute upwards of 25,000 pounds of food this year to help curb the issue.

On average, the program also gives away 350 bags of produce every Wednesday.

A grant provided by the state Department of Health allows the organization to source foods from reasonably local farms. The program also offers nutrition classes and food demonstrations. 

“People say certain communities don’t eat fruits and vegetables and I don’t find that to be true,” said McBeth. “The goal at the end of the day is to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Harlem resident Daisy Keepler, 71, a participant and volunteer in the program, said it has given her something to do post-retirement and adds a plethora of different vegetables to her diet.

“I’ve tried so many more different vegetables since I’ve been here than in my whole 71 years on earth,” she said.