8-01-2023 10:20am

Looking For Veggies Near You? City Green Has Fresh Local Produce

Leafy Greens at City Green! Chards and kales ready for harvest!

Update: Due to the really amazing turnout at the Veggie Mobiles and Farm Stands this season, City Green is no longer able to offer the mid-season CSA. Stop by the Farm Stands or Veggie Mobile to get your very fresh and delicious produce!

City Green Farm Eco-Center, located at 171 Grove Street in Clifton, is an unexpected oasis in our busy city. Located just minutes off Route 46, the Garden State Parkway and Route 3, this agricultural sanctuary is more than just a lovely place to sit and soak up nature, it is a powerhouse of community service with many innovative programs, focusing on topics including educating young people about the environment, bringing healthy food to under-served communities, teaching people how to garden, and creating friendships through the volunteering program.

The Clifton Times spoke with Jasmine Moreano, Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy for City Green, about the organization and how Cliftonites can get involved, with a focus on their food distribution networks through the CSA, Farm Stand, farmer’s markets, and the Veggie Mobiles.

The History of City Green: City Green was established in 2004 by Jennifer Papa, the founder and executive director. The program began as a partnership with a church in Paterson to create a community garden. This collaboration grew and eventually in 2008 the City Green Learning Garden in Eastside Park was developed, creating City Green’s first garden home. This allowed them to bring field trips, education, and fresh food to the City of Paterson. In 2011, City Green leased the Schultheis Farm from the City of Clifton to establish the City Green Farm Eco-Center. The old farmhouse now houses the offices for the organization, and the five acres of agricultural land have now been divided into the Learning Farm, which hosts field trips, camps, and other events that allow learners to nurture their connection with nature by picking vegetables, smelling herbs, feeding goats and geese, and watering the plants and the production farm, which grows over 75 kinds of fruits, vegetables and herbs that are distributed through City Green’s two Veggie Mobiles, sold at the Farm Stands, and at local farmer’s markets. In 2012, City Green also entered into a partnership with Mount Olive allowing them to farm an additional 12 acres of preserved farmland at South Branch Preserve. As City Green has grown, they have expanded their programming and now use their sites to host field trips, job and volunteer opportunities, farm stands, family programs, educational programs, and a wide range of events for the community. Many Cliftonites admire the Community Garden in Weasel Brook Park, where people can sign up for raised beds to grow their own produce and flowers.

Community Supported Agriculture (“CSA”): Under a CSA, a community supports a farm by buying a “share” of its harvest for a fixed amount every week. This is a great way to support local farms, reduce the carbon footprint of our food as it is not being transported long distances, invest in regenerative agriculture which protects local soil and water, and most of all gives families the opportunity to taste delicious, seasonal produce at peak freshness.

Moreano explained that in 2020, as the pandemic was closing down many of the grocery stores, the City Green CSA opened as a way to safely get healthy, fresh food to our local community. The farm was producing lots of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, so the staff would pack boxes, which local families would pick up with minimal contact from the Farm Eco-Center. The CSA was an immediate hit - the ability to taste seasonal fruits and vegetables harvested right here in Clifton meant that people were rediscovering how delicious fresh food can be.

Mid-Season Sign-Ups on August 10, 2023: Although the season for the CSA generally runs from June to November, Cliftonites can sign up for a mid-season share on August 10, 2023, starting at 10 am. The program will run for 12 weeks, from August 16th - November 10th. Pick-up days are Wednesdays 4 pm-6 pm or Fridays 10 am-2 pm, at the Clifton Farm Eco-Center.

The CSA share comes in two sizes - small and large. The small share will give a selection of 6-8 items of produce per week, perfect for 1-2 people, and costs $21 per week. The large share provides a selection of 10-12 items of produce per week, perfect for 3-4 people for $31/week. You can add eggs for an additional $5 per week.

In addition to delicious farm fresh produce, CSA member perks include access to members-only pick-your-own days on the farm, a weekly CSA Newsletter with exclusive City Green content, recipe ideas, and more. SNAP and WIC FMNP customers will receive 50% off their weekly purchases through City Green’s Good Food Buck Program. You can sign up for the CSA HERE (link will go live on August 10, at 10 am). Moreano recommends that people sign up for the City Green email list for reminders as well.

Farm Stands: City Green operates farm stands in Clifton, Paterson, Passaic, and Bloomfield, as part of their commitment to bringing healthy, accessible, and culturally appropriate foods to our communities. These farm stands operate between June 2 and November 11. There is a farm stand at City Green Farm every Wednesday from 4 pm to 6 pm and Fridays from 10 am to 2 pm and at Clifton City Hall every Wednesday from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. For more information, visit citygreenonline.org/markets.

More Events: City Green has many more events planned this summer, from their Farm Festivals (the next is on August 17th) to Open Saturdays (the next is on August 19th. To read more please see our article HERE), yoga classes, gardening workshops, and volunteer opportunities for Weeding Wednesdays.

Please sign up for their City Green email list, and watch the Clifton Times calendar for more! As City Green celebrates nearly 20 years of growth and service, Cliftonites are looking forward to seeing what is next for this wonderful local non-profit and the many communities it serves.