Kids Day Brings Joy, Fresh Produce to Farmers Market

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NEWBURGH – The Healthy Orange Farmers Market turned up the heat on Tuesday, August 12th, with a vivacious Kids Day celebration in the heart of Newburgh. Located on Broadway on the green lot between Johnston and Lander Streets, the farmers market drew people from across the Hudson Valley area for a day packed with fresh produce, free food, games, raffles, and community connections.

The Healthy Orange Farmers Market operates every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from mid-June to October. But August 12th wasn’t just a regular market day—it was a day to focus on the children, offering fun activities that supported wellness, early childhood development, and community connection.

“I wanted to highlight the children as we do every year [and] give them a special time and space to enjoy themselves,” said Bishop Jeffery C. Woody, pastor of The Cathedral at the House Church, a key partner in organizing the farmers market.

The Healthy Orange Farmers Market is a collaboration between The Cathedral at the House Church and the Orange County Department of Health. It began about 15 years ago.

“I got a grant called Eat Well, Play Hard from the New York State Department of Health and the idea was the grant was for people to eat more fruits and vegetables. So, we started very small… We used to be in the back of the building and it was not that visible. So, it did okay, but then we decided to strengthen it and partner with a local agency. And so, between us and what we can do, and between the church and his reputation and everything that he does in the community, it’s a stronger partnership. But officially it’s his farmers market. He’s the official sponsor now,” said Health and Wellness Coordinator Meg Oakes from the Orange County Department of Health.

The farmers market featured fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey from local farms. For regulars like Kendra Bryant, who has been visiting the farmers market every Tuesday for the last two years, it is more than a shopping stop. She prefers the organic options at the vendor Fresh Radish Farm for health reasons as well as the taste.

“[I like] that it’s organic and they’re fresh. [The carrots] still [have] the [roots] from where they pulled them out of the dirt… That’s it right there! That’s gonna be way better than the grocery store and you can taste the difference,” said Bryant who discussed why it is better to get organic produce directly from farms, grown without pesticides and sprays. “It’s important because they have so many bacteria going [around], Listeria, Salmonella, E coli. So, I feel more comfortable eating my vegetables from here. I can tell that they’re fresh and they don’t use pesticides.”

Assistant Farmer Jennifer Goldfrank of Downing Park Urban Farm discussed their Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative. The program gives back to the community by donating produce to three local foodbanks.

“This is just one of the programs that it does. It gives away 90% of the produce that we pick up at our farm,” said Goldfrank.

The farm, which used to grow plants for the city, now faces soil contamination issues, with half the land unsuitable for produce. They are raising awareness about soil contamination and providing soil test kits and alternative growing solutions for city gardeners.

Spouses Terry and John Lassiter, co-owners of Diva Gardener, sold microgreens which are 12-day-old versions of vegetables like broccoli and kale, offering 40 times more nutrition than full-grown vegetables. They also featured herb bouquets, flowers, candles, soaps, and body butters, all free of chemicals. Terry emphasized the importance of knowing the origin and contents of food and also advocated for homegrown produce.

“Everything doesn’t have to come from Walmart and I advocate for people growing their own food. We have to do it. Knowing what’s in [our food] is also immensely important and knowing that I don’t want to put anything extremely detrimental in my body,” said Terry Lassiter.

E & C Grill 43 Soul Food dished out jerk chicken egg rolls, steak & cheese egg rolls, chopped BBQ sandwiches, fried pork chop sandwiches, wings, shrimp, salmon bites, meatloaf, fish, ribs, turkey wings, collard greens, candied yams, mac ‘n cheese, fried cabbage, and more that had people coming back for seconds. Señor P. kept everybody cool with free icees sponsored by Felicita Colon-Cordero of Molina Healthcare. Leo’s Hot Dogs served up free hot dogs, sponsored by Newburgh Reunion Founder Harold Shirley.

“He wanted to bless people and give them free hot dogs… I’m from the City of Newburgh. I know how people are hungry. They don’t have the means to feed themselves. So, giving away is a good thing to do,” said Leo Drye, owner of Leo’s Hot Dogs who is starring in the new play titled “The Waiting Room” with performances scheduled for September 13th and 14th at Baptist Temple and filming of part the play in his restaurant on Broadway,
Local vendors and community organizations filled the lot with life, including RJM Honey, The Regional Food Bank, Hudson House, RAPP (Release Aging People in Prison), RUPCO, the Newburgh Free Library, Fidelis Care, and New Windsor Pediatrics and Family Care. Community vendors echoed the importance of being part of the Healthy Orange Farmers Market.

“It is really important [that we are here] because we’re in the community and a lot of people come by. They get Narcan kits to help if they see somebody or know somebody that actually has an opioid overdose. And then we also have test kits for fentanyl… We also give out Deterra [bags] which you can put your old prescriptions that you don’t need any more into the Deterra, add some water, and then dispose of it safely… We have people come and ask us about AA meetings and different things that they need. So, [it is] definitely important for us to be here, and we definitely are a resource that the community accesses,” said Lisa Newkirk, Prevention Educator at the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County who emphasized the importance of their presence at the farmer’s market as a community resource.

The Cathedral at the House Church is also a proud recipient of the New York Food for New York Families Grant which is funded by the New York State Department of Agriculture. The grant supports farm-to-community efforts to combat food insecurity and increase food access to locally grown produce in underserved areas. The grant enables the church to deliver farm boxes filled with fresh fruits and vegetables to the residents at Varick Homes, Cerone Place, Burton Towers, Hudson Point, Cornerstone Apartments, and also partner with Meals on Wheels to reach homebound individuals.

As the kids laughed during Kids Day, it was clear that the Healthy Orange Farmers Market wasn’t just feeding bodies—it was feeding hearts and building a healthier Newburgh.

Ms. Jones