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The basics:

• RWJBarnabas, Urban Agriculture Cooperative launch joint center
• Newark-based facility to address food insecurity, health access
• Features kitchens, wellness offices, food distribution hub
• Opening planned by year-end in the historic Hahne’s building

RWJBarnabas Health is teaming up with Newark-based farm-to-city social enterprise Urban Agriculture Cooperative to launch a first-of-its-kind community center that brings together health care, agriculture, education and economic development to improve health outcomes across the Brick City and beyond.

Scheduled to open by the end of the year in the historic Hahne’s building on Halsey Street, Harvest: An RWJBarnabas Health Farm to Community Center will seek to establish a hub for community driven programs that combat food insecurity, promote nutrition education and empower local businesses, according to the health network.

Key features will include:

• Farm fresh produce distribution center – 2,100 square feet of cold and dry storage to store, package and distribute local produce, eggs, meats and more to local schools, pantries and meal providers.
• Consultation and wellness offices – On-site registered dietitians, SNAP Navigators and community health workers who will offer services including diabetes management, meal planning, healthcare navigation and transportation resources.
• Demonstration kitchen – A fully equipped teaching kitchen for cooking demonstrations and nutrition education programs to demonstrate practical cooking skills for healthy eating for all ages.
• Industrial kitchen incubator – State-of-the-art facilities that will be available through an accessible membership model to local chefs, caterers, and food business owners, to bake fresh breads and prepare whole foods for those who do not have the space or for culinary training to cook healthier foods.

Nourishing neighborhoods

Harvest will also have flexible spaces to host food- and nutrition-related community events, meetings with partner organizations, wellness programming, and forums focused on fair access to nutritious food and better health for all.

During a June 12 press conference announcing the concept, Mark Manigan, the health care network’s president and CEO, said, “Food insecurity is a key social determinant of health and RWJBarnabas Health is leading the way in innovative health access by making a bold investment in preventive care and community wellbeing.”

“Harvest is a living example of how cross-sector partnerships can generate lasting change. This center gets us one step closer to achieving our mission of building and sustaining a healthier New Jersey by strengthening local food systems to nourish our neighborhoods and economy alike,” Manigan said.

UAC co-founder and Executive Director Emilio Panasci said Harvest will give his organization “a state-of-the art space for aggregation and distribution of fresh urban and rural farm products to our business partners.”

“The link … to community health workers from RWJBarnabas Health furthers our evolution into a ‘food is medicine’ implementation partner. The kitchens allow our ecosystem of chefs and foodies to build their businesses all in one space with direct access to our supply chain. And the downtown location means that we are accessible to all of the biggest institutional procurement partners, available for local restaurants, and can easily deliver out to each ward, too,” he said.

Big picture

Harvest is part of RWJBarnabas Health’s broader efforts to address food insecurity in the communities it serves.

Other initiatives include a greenhouse and farmers market at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, as well as embedding SNAP navigators to assist patients in all 14 of its system hospitals and expanding “Share My Meals” programs.

Supported by funding appropriations from the State of New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health partners with local leaders, providers, civic organizations, clergy and others to create greater access to health care, transportation, food security and housing in communities in need.

“At RWJBarnabas Health, we believe that no one’s health should suffer due to lack of access to nutritious food,” said Barbara Mintz, senior vice president, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health. “Harvest represents our commitment to tackling the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity related to poor health. We’re walking hand in hand with our partners to plant the seeds for a healthier New Jersey.”

‘More than food’

Dr. Balpreet Grewal-Virk, RWJBarnabas Health senior vice president, Community Health, said Harvest “is about more than food.”

“It’s about dignity, advancement and sustainable change. Together, with UAC, local farmers and producers, and other community organizations in the greater Newark community, we’re showcasing a model for how we can drive transformative change in communities facing long-standing health challenges due to food insecurity.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also on hand for the unveiling.

“Few human interactions are more basic or essential than feeding each other,” he said. “It is the very first compassionate gift of nurturing we give our babies, and is often the last act of nourishing compassion we give our elders. Every day in between, we use food as a way to demonstrate our care for each other and strengthen our bonds. This complex, multi-level initiative in Newark goes much deeper than simply solving a set of problems. It is a comprehensive embrace of our entire community, and one we are profoundly grateful for.”

Learn more about Harvest here: