Finkelstein Library launches farm stand, brings fresh food to Spring Valley hub
SPRING VALLEY − Shoppers surveyed potatoes and carrots straight from the ground and an assortment of other fresh vegetables and fruit at a stand that felt like it could be outside a country farm — save for the traffic whizzing by on Route 59.
The stand, near the main entrance of Finkelstein Memorial Library, will allow patrons at Rockland's biggest library to pick up produce along with books and service.
That's the hope of Maria Vanessa Cipolla, Finkelstein Memorial Library head of marketing & communications.
The farm stand is slated to serve Finkelstein from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 31. The setup started in mid July and the stand has gained a steady stream of customers.
Fresh food access at community hub
Finkelstein serves the East Ramapo school district, among the most diverse in the region, and the greater Spring Valley area, a hub for new immigrants.
The library offers English language and citizenship classes; books in various languages, from Spanish to Haitian Creole to Yiddish to Russian; notary and other services. Social workers and counselors are onsite. Tutoring is offered and there's plenty of study and community space with computer terminals.
"I've seen people have job interviews here," Cipolla said.
Cipolla said she wanted to bring in a farm stand to ensure easy access to healthy food for residents. "Maybe they have to bring their kids for activity, meet with social worker, get something notarized, now can pick up some fruits and veggies."
Organizers have made sure various food voucher programs can be used at the stand. "The point of doing this was to support sustainability efforts but also support the community that we serve," Cipolla said.
'Black dirt' region produce
The J&D Farm Stand comes to Finkelstein every Tuesday from the “Black Dirt” region of Orange County, offering in-season fruits and vegetables, and also supplies items such as eggs, honey and herbs when available.
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Javier Perez Jr., owner and farmer at J&D Farm, is a second-generation farmer. His parents bought a Goshen farm during the early aughts, after years of working others' land after immigrating here from Mexico. Perez's own farm is nearby, and his son, Damien (the "D" in "J&D") works alongside him. His sister has a farm in the region too.
Perez, between ringing up customers Tuesday and answering questions about the week's offerings (fewer tomatoes this week, lots of gigantic zucchini and a stash of Kirby cucumbers in the van for those who ask), said the stand has been running at a clip since July.
"We've seen good business," Perez said. "And the people are lovely."
Health care, coupons and more
Monsey Health Center brings its Community Medical and Dental Care van to Finkelstein on the same days as the farm stand. Appointments can be scheduled and a drop-in flu vaccine clinic is coming next month, said Shoshana Bobker, a dietician with Monsey Health Center. Services are offered in a variety of languages, Bobker said.
The stand participates in the state's FreshConnect Fresh2You program, which reimburses SNAP/food stamps recipients and veterans for fresh produce, dairy and meat purchases. Those who receive WIC can also get items at the farm stand through the New York State Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland, which operates the local SNAP-Ed New York Program, has a table with different offerings each week. This day, there were recipes to clip and orange-infused water to sip as temperatures climbed toward the 90s.
Senior coupons are also available through the county; call 845-364-2110.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Farm stand adds fresh produce to spring valley new york library lot
