Grow Youngstown expands Farm to YOU pickup sites to Erie Terminal downtown

YOUNGSTOWN

A local nonprofit brings a temporary oasis of fresh foods – including asparagus, blueberries, grass-fed meats and milk – for a revitalizing downtown that still lacks a grocery store.

Now in its eighth year, Grow Youngstown’s community-supported agriculture market, Farm to YOU, has expanded its list of pickup sites for hyper-local, and mostly organic produce to the Erie Terminal building, 112 W. Commerce St., from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. each Thursday.

“I would love to see a downtown grocery store eventually,” said Elsa Higby, director of the local nonprofit.

The extended summer session started last week, and runs until Nov. 24. The program connects residents with farmers within a 30-mile radius of Youngstown and Warren.

“We definitely hope to improve the vision of local agriculture,” said Kerry Flynn, sales and market manager of Grow Youngstown.

The organization is using a $97,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund Farm to YOU.

“We’re supporting the local economy,” she said.

Grow Youngstown is also offering itself as a third-party distributor to downtown businesses.

Read more about the organization's expanding programs in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.