Newburgh Farmers Market Serves Up Fresh Produce

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Ernest Brown could not have been happier as he surveyed the fresh fruits and vegetables that adorned the farm stand. Each time he thought he was done with his shopping, he spotted yet another tantalizing item he just had to purchase.

“The peaches look great,” said the smiling New Windsor resident Brown, as he loaded up a bag. “The onions too; they go really well on my steak.”

Brown is one of many local residents who could be found at Tuesday’s Healthy Orange Farmer’s Market, held at “The Green Lot,” located next to the DMV  on 130 Broadway in the City of Newburgh. Here, from 10am-2pm, each week, various vendors come to sell their fresh fruits and vegetables. Starting in the summer, the unique, outdoor shopping venue concludes at the end of October.

It all started about seven years ago, when the Orange County Department of Health received a New York State Grant for its “Healthy Orange” incentive program.

“The goal was to increase healthy foods in local communities, such as the City of Newburgh” explained Meg Oakes, Health and Wellness Coordinator for Healthy Orange.

“This idea was especially true with fruits and vegetables.”

Picking up momentum since its opening, the Market has since received another boost from its now sponsor and neighbor on 131 Broadway, Church, House of Refuge. In addition, an EBT “swipe” Machine is on site, allowing shoppers to use food stamps. An attractive incentive to take advantage of that Machine is also available: special coupons are awarded by Fresh Connect for people who do so. More clearly, for every $5 that is spent using the EBT transaction process, the patron receives two dollars back. Still other appealing offers abound: $20 WIC Coupons are given out during the summer; while Senior coupons are provided twice a year.

“We have all of these types of coupons available to help people out,” said Oakes. “Sometimes people forget to cash them in, and the season is very short (ends in October), so we really want to get the word out.”

Still another special component of the Healthy Orange Market is its community partners. One of those agencies is St. Lukes Hospital, who was on hand Tueday, making its monthly appearance, something they  eagerly look forward to doing. Offering blood pressure screenings, while mixing with the community members they serve, Hospital workers are able to interact with them in a relaxed, friendly setting.

Also on site this day was The Veterans Affairs, providing $5 coupons for people whose households have a service person or veteran residing there.

In fact, the ambience of the Market is so magnetic that it pulled in the young entrepreneur, 16 year old Janese Free, who happened to walk by it earlier this summer, and  immediately wanted to get involved. Running the business, “Simply Trinity, Free makes her own all natural soaps, lotions and other skin care products. Currently having a booth at the Market, Free’s business offers further diversity to the shopping choices available to its guests.

“It’s a really nice atmosphere here with really nice, good people,” said Free.”Plus, it really pushes the overall health of the City of Newburgh; I just really love it here, a lot of fun.”
Someone else who is crazy about the Orange Farmer’s Market on Broadway is its Manager, Melzina Canigan. In addition to the pull of the products available at the Market,  Canigan is impressed by the overall effect it has had on the bonding of her community.

“It’s a really great cause here; the fact that you can get money back for money you spend is amazing,” said Melzina, as she munched on a piece of corn from the farm stand. “I  am a lifelong resident of Newburgh, so this is a way for me to give back.” Looking around at the shoppers on this sunny, pleasant afternoon, she added, “I’ve seen great success here; it’s very crowded, and the farmers and customers are very happy; it’s like a community gathering, a great thing.”

Newburgh residents who might not have access to the Broadway locale, but still want to reap the benefits of shopping in an outdoor venue for farm fresh fruits and vegetables have two further options: The Downing Park Farmer’s Market is run on Fridays, and The Newburgh Mall provides one on Saturdays. Check out their websites for further details.