Grow Youngstown brings fresh foods downtown

By Brandon Klein | June 11, 2015 at 12:13a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

A local nonprofit brings a temporary oasis of fresh foods – including asparagus, blueberries, grass-fed meats and milk – for a revitalized 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 at the Erie Terminal building, 112 W. Commerce St., which takes place 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 marketing 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 also is offering itself as a third-party distributor to downtown businesses.

So far, Joe Maxx Coffee Co. is on board, Flynn said.

Other pickup sites are the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership in Warren; Poland library; the Davis Family YMCA in Boardman; Newport library; Austintown Library; and the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown.

Members pay at the beginning of the season. A family-share membership, which feeds about four to six people, is $741 for the full 26 weeks, and $513 for 18 weeks. A single share is $416 for 26 weeks, and $288 for the 18 weeks.

During the session, families can do a one-time, two-week trial share at the beginning of each month for $57.

Late sign-ups can be pro-rated, and some of the share cost can be subsidized for low-income families, Flynn said.

Grow Youngstown is also offering “snackables,” items that can be eaten raw, Higby said.

The market helps the city’s food deserts, said Don Schuler, a board member of Grow Youngstown. He also volunteers as a manager of the YMCA pickup site for the past few years.

Food deserts are defined as urban areas with limited access to fresh food.

“People get on board with buying local,” he said.