When Maggie Ornstein, a CUNY student, lived in Manhattan, the farmers markets that popped up almost 6 days a week at different locations was one of her favorite things about the city.
“I loved it,” she said “You could get fresh produce and meet the farmers.” Now, that she has moved to Woodside, Queens, the change in the food landscape, she says, is dramatic.
“In Queens, it’s a real struggle to find fresh food,” she said.
Even as ethnic enclaves serve up everything from samosas to moussaka and fast food joints form a necklace of fried chicken and value meals spanning the borough–finding fresh produce, grains and fish has been a challenge for those seeking to eat healthy.
Maggie and her friends hope to change this landscape by introducing a brand new Food Co-op–The Queens Harvest Food Co-op–that is set to launch late next year.
Located in Long Island City, the co-op will be the borough’s first and hopes to be a cheaper alternative to a Trader Joe’s or Wholefoods.
So far a hundred people have expressed interest and the group is expanding rapidly as they finalize plans on vendors, location and membership models.
“I want a store where people can buy directly from the farmers,” said Ornstein.
“Jackson Heights has the farmers market but that goes only till November. So it’s hard to stock up,” she added.
The new co-op hopes to be the one-stop shop for people year-long as they buy not just vegetables and fruits, but also cleaning supplies and pet food.
“Despite what experts would have you believe, it’s not that easy to get a healthy meal in New York City,” said Leah McLaughlin, Editor of Edible Queens magazine.
“Especially if you’re working class and have two jobs. Fresh vegetables are expensive and they take time to prepare. Many young professionals haven’t a clue how to cook for themselves, so they rely on takeout,” she added.
The food co-op movement seeks to change that outlook as young people can work for the food co-op in exchange for discounted food prices–a great option in this economy as the cost of living spirals.
Food Co-ops can provide discounted prices on their food because they purchase produce in bulk directly from farmers.
Not just that, they save on employee costs as co-ops are staffed by members who then receive discounted prices on the food.
Some food co-ops like the Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn has a closed membership model–which means only members have access to discounted food.
So far, the Queens food co-op has not finalized its membership model.
Members are also scouting for a property in the proposed location of Long Island City. “We chose LIC because it is a transit hub,” said Ornstein.
“Everyone going into Queens or going into Manhattan has to pass through LIC, so we chose this location.” But finding a property in LIC, Ornstein admits, will be “prohibitively expensive.”
As details of the food co-op are being ironed out, residents in Queens are excited at having new options to procure healthy and fresh food.
Co-ops, says Edible Queens Editor Leah McLauglin, strengthens a community by bringing people together and by offering low cost, high-quality food. “You can find food products from nearly every corner of the globe in Queens,” said McLaughlin. “But it’s rare to find a jar of, say, Rick’s Picks Pickled Vegetables or Milkimchee or Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. That’s shameful,” she said adding the new co-op would help local food manufacturers like these reach more consumers in Queens.
But most importantly, co-ops, she said, help us change our approach to food. “All you need is one teenager to swap his afternoon candy bar for a locally grown apple and it’s made a difference in that kid’s life,” said McLaughlin.”Eating healthier is about simple steps–the ones we take individually–and the ones we take as a community, like this co-op.”
For more details on the food co-op and on how to volunteer–go to queensharvestcoop.com
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This piece also appeared in the Queens Chronicle
