greenfood
WELCOME TO
THE GREENER SIDE
OF NEW YORK
By Stapha Charleme
Would you feed your child a
peach dripping with pesticides? It
doesn’t sound very appetizing does
it? Well it isn’t very safe either.
Pesticides can have lifelong ef-
fects on your loved ones and your
children are most susceptible be-
cause of their vulnerable immune
systems. The Environmental Wor-
king Group (EWG) is a not- for- profit
environmental research organization
dedicated to improving public health and
the environment by reducing pollution in the
air, water, and food. During the period of 2000
The CENYC began in 1970 under the order
and 2005 the EWG ran nearly 43,000 tests for
of Mayor John V. Lindsay as a privately funded
pesticides on produce and based on their re-
citizens’ organization. It is a hands-on- nonpro-
sults peaches ranked worst with a score of 100
fit organization committed to improving New
for “highest pesticide loads”, followed in close
York City’s environment and has been doing
second by apples with a score of 96, and sweet
just that for more than 30 years. They have an
bell peppers came in third with a score of 86.
extraordinary devoted staff that goes above and
Although washing your fruits and veggies may
beyond to green our neighborhoods by dona-
reduce the level of pesticides it does not com-
ting things such as plant materials to facilitate
pletely eliminate the risk.
several community workloads, promote waste
Dangerous levels of pesticides are not
and recycling, and run the largest farmer’s
our only concern when it comes to food no-
market in the entire country.
wadays. We also need to consider the hidden
The Greenmarket program took its very
dangers of processed foods, the outbreak of
first breath in 1976. With virtually 200 local far-
salmonella, and genetically modified crops
mers it has flourished into the most successful
which require a significant increase in pro-
open air farmers’ market program with food so
prietary chemicals amongst other factors. We
fresh that it feels and tastes like you delve into
have every reason to be cautious of the foods
the natural earth to retrieve it yourself. The far-
we put into our bodies. The time has come to
mers are entirely dedicated to providing New
ask yourself how safe the food you feed your
York City residents with the freshest provisions
family really is.
possible. They grow the most succulent and
Now you can ensure the quality of your
crisp fruits and vegetables, catch the freshest
food because the Council on the Environment
seafood and raise their livestock as humanely
of NYC (CENYC) has revolutionized the way
as possible as well as other locally produced
some New Yorkers today eat by creating the
products from their regional farms. You simply
Greenmarket program at Union Square. So
cannot get more dedicated than that.
far, there are about 51 markets in 37 locations
During harvest season many New York
throughout Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the
City restaurants owe their culinary success to
Bronx, and Staten Island.
the convenience of the many Greenmarkets
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