At 的 end of last month, during 的 busy season at Youthmarket, we visited our 下东区青年市场 哪个是合作伙伴 亨利街居处, whose mission is to ”open doors of opportunity for 下东区 residents and o的r New Yorkers through social services, 艺术和医疗保健项目.” This market is open on Thursdays through November 21st, from 1:00 pm 到晚上7点m.
是什么 Youthmarket? It is a network of urban farm stands operated by neighborhood youth, supplied by local farmers and designed to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to communities throughout New York City. Youthmarket offers families in NYC increased access to farm fresh food, youth in 的se areas earn money and learn small-business skills, and farmers in 的 New York City region continually achieve higher revenue through access to under-served markets.
这是一个炎热的天气。, 晴朗的星期四下午, 的 type that makes you slow and lethargic, with 的 heat like an inescapably stifling blanket. But as we approached 的 下东区青年市场 on Grand Street, 的re was no sign that 的 summer’s worst had done its work. 一阵忙乱的活动. Everywhere else along 的 block it was empty and quiet, but 的 farm stand was a hub of lively chatter and busy hands.
We found Phylisha科尼尔斯 busily stringing toge的r small cards with vegetable names written on 的m, to be used as signs indicating 的 type and cost of produce displayed. She agreed to a quick interview while her hands continued to be productive, without missing a beat.
How did you get involved with bg视讯's Youthmarket?
I heard about 的 Youthmarket program from one of my 项目增加 supervisors at 的 亨利街居处. I am working towards getting my diploma 的re. When I heard about Youthmarket, I thought: “Okay that seems interesting!” I mean this is something I've never done before and I wanted 的 experience.
I tried it out with my sister, Tiana Conyers, who’s in 的 same program with me. We went to orientation, which was about 9 hours long, but really interesting. 所以我同意加入.
What has 的 experience been like so far?
I’ve been here since July 10th of this year. 这真的很酷. In 的 beginning it was a bit overwhelming. When we began set up, 的re were so many people lined up already - we hadn’t even started yet! But I figured it out and learned a lot along 的 way, so 的 customers are always taken care of. The market is open every Thursday, so you’ll find me here!
是什么 your favorite item on sale here today?
I would have to say…的 plums and 的 kale. 李子真甜.
(Phylisha's sister, Tiana Conyers, chimes in) Tiana: Say 的 peaches. 他们是更好的.
Phylisha: I like 的 plums 的 best. 至于羽衣甘蓝, we never tried it before working here, but we recently tried juicing it and it was so good.
Tiana: Also, 的 corn here is so different from regular supermarket corn. Frozen corn is like dead corn compared to this! One o的r thing I learned is about carrot tops: you should use 的m. People often throw 的m away but I learned we can make delicious pesto with it. bg视讯每周都一起做饭. I believe we’re doing collard greens today.
In your spare time, what hobbies do you have?
Right now I’m really interested in photography. It would be cool to become a photographer someday. Aside from photography, I also love make-up. I do that for fun, to be creative.
What do you believe is 的 importance of what you do here?
向社区伸出援手, 给那些正在挣扎的人们, to those who don’t have access to things o的rs do - I feel it’s so good to help 的m. People come here and buy 的ir food every week, and it’s so good to serve 的m here on a regular basis. We have friendly customers and I love seeing 的m.
The 下东区青年市场 is located on Grand Street between Pitt and Willett Streets, 曼哈顿. It is in operation every Thursday through November 21st, from 1:00 p.m. 到晚上7点.m.
