Program Offers Bags of Fresh Produce to Seniors at Wholesale Prices

By Carol Tannenhauser

Seniors can buy bags filled with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices through a program called Fresh Food for Seniors, sponsored by City Councilmember Gale Brewer in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

The bags — a $15+ value — cost $10 and are filled with food from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania farmers, and are delivered to local sites. People pay cash in advance and then pick up their food the following week or so. It’s pay-as-you go, not a subscription, so there’s no need for a commitment.

Here’s how it works: you pay $I0 cash in advance on the Wednesday before you want a bag of produce at the prime pickup site, Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center (593 Columbus Ave. at 88th Street), then come get your produce on pickup day, between 1 – 3 pm.

Here are the sign-up and pick-up dates:

Sign up July 5th – Pick up July 19

Sign up July 19th – Pick up August 2

Sign up August 2nd – Pick up August 16

Sign up August 16 – Pick up August 30

Sign up August 30 – Pick up September 13

Sign up September 13 – Pick up September 27

Sign up September 27 – Pick up October 11

Sign up October 11 – Pick up October 25

Sign up October 25 – Pick up November 8

And here are other Upper West Side pick-up locations. (Please call them for their ordering processes.)

• Project Find: Hamilton House (141 W. 73rd St., 212-787-7710)

• NCJW Council Lifetime Learning (241 W. 72nd St., 212-687-5030)

• Bloomingdale Aging in Place (212-842-8831)

• Lincoln House Outreach (303 W. 66th St., 212-875-8958)

Fresh Food for Seniors was started by City Councilmember Gale Brewer 11 years ago when she was Manhattan borough president. Call her office, 212-873-0282, or email district6@council.nyc.gov with questions.