Earlier today, NP strolled out to a press conference for the newly launched Central Brooklyn CSA. This press conference was a precursor to the CSA’s first distribution, which was to commence at 4pm this afternoon and go through 7pm in the evening.  Held at Crown Heights’  Hebron Seventh Day Adventist Church on the corner of New York and Dean Avenue, today’s press conference attracted about half a dozen media outlets, most prominent of course was NY1.  Among those who were in attendance for today’s ceremony included Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH) Executive Director Joel Berg, Gail Branch Muhammad, Special Assistant to Rep. Ed Towns, and former district 36 city council candidate Mark Winston Griffith.  All of these local luminaries were on-hand to toast the arrival of this new healthy food venture in Central Brooklyn.  Similar to its counterpart the Crown Heights CSA, the Central Brooklyn CSA pairs area residents with a local farmer and gives them a unique opportunity to get weekly deliveries of locally grown farm fresh food.  Unique to this CSA’s mission is that it’s part of a special NYCCAH initiative designed to expand access to healthy food in neighborhoods that are under-served by healthy food options.  The first of these projects was launched in the South Bronx and this Central Brooklyn project is the fourth to be launched since the program’s inception.

Cetnral Brooklyn was chosen because according to a recent study of this nation’s 435 congressional districts Central Brooklyn’s 10th Congressional district was 6th worst in terms of healthy food availability.  Berg touted this report in his remarks about the urgency for NYCCAH to establish a presence in the area.  Hebron was chosen as a partnering organization because not only is community service part of this church’s mission, but they host two weekly food distributions.  On Wednesdays from 9am – 10:30am Hebron distributes bags of non-perishable items to those in need, and on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 – 3:00pm Hebron provides cooked meals to those in search of a warm meal.  Hebron’s community service efforts are spearheaded by Amos and Jacqueline Jean-Pharuns.  Under the stewardship of Hebron’s pastor Roberne J. Saint Louis, the Jean-Pharuns believe that it is not only their duty to serve their neighbors in Central Brooklyn, but also in Haiti, the island from which many of Hebron’s congregants hail.  And on August 21st Hebron is hosting a charity concert to benefit residents of Haiti.

As the press conference wore on the CSA’s community & community organizing spirit became more apparent.  A number of Dean Street residents stepped outside their homes to talk with the officials on-hand–congratulating them on their success in launching the CSA, but also touting this project as another marker of the block’s success and strides made by their block association, a group that was heavily involved in promoting the CSA to local residents.

The Central Brooklyn CSA already has 70 members and a number of slots are still open.  However, the CSA’s organizers have noted that they’ve sold out their low-income food shares and their is a waiting list in this category.  If you are interesting in joining the CSA or would like more information refer here for their website.

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