Left to right: Gabrielle Terry, Manager, NJ SNAP Navigator Program; Molly Fallon Dixon, MS, RDN, Director Food Access and Social Impact; Kerri Likakis, MS, RDN, Director of Nutrition and Wellness Education and Social Impact; Barbara Mintz, SVP, RWJBarnabas Health Wellness Program; Darrell K. Terry, Sr., President and CEO, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey; Alyssa Smolen, RD, Community Wellness Dietitian; Delicia Trotz, Greenhouse Manager; Erika Lanaman, MS, RDN, Outpatient Dietitian, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Tiffany Aybar, Manager NJ SNAP Navigator Program.
Newark, N.J. (October 22, 2026) — Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility today celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Beth Greenhouse, RWJBarnabas Health’s first hydroponic greenhouse and a pioneering community health initiative that has provided more than 50,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to Newark residents and patients while advancing nutrition, wellness and food security throughout the city.
Customer buying from the market.
For a decade, The Beth Greenhouse has served as a vital resource for families, improving access to healthy foods and offering nutrition and wellness education designed to help residents lead healthier lives. The sustainable hydroponic greenhouse produces more than 5,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, helping address food insecurity and support healthier communities. Crops have included lettuce, curly kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, pak choi, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers, along with herbs and flowers such as sage, lemongrass, cilantro, rosemary, chives, lavender and sunflowers.
Wide shot of the market.
Produce grown at the greenhouse is available at the hospital’s farmers market, held in the NBIMC’s Newark Strong Lobby on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market accepts SNAP, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits and participates in City Green’s Good Food Bucks program. In the ten years, The Beth Greenhouse and Farmer’s Market has served 3,000 benefit users which include individuals, families and seniors. In addition, the food grown at The Beth Greenhouse is used at the facility’s nutrition education programs including Hannah’s Kitchen at NBIMC.
Darrell K. Terry Sr., President and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey.
“For the past decade, The Beth Greenhouse has been more than a source of fresh, healthy food. It has been a symbol of our commitment to improving community health and addressing food insecurity across Newark,” said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children's Hospital of New Jersey. “By combining access to nutritious produce with education and wellness resources, we are helping individuals and families make healthier choices and lead healthier lives. This is just one of the many ways we strive to create a positive and lasting impact in the communities we serve.”
Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health.
“The Beth Greenhouse has become a staple and lifeline for Newark families, demonstrating that innovative community investments can tackle social determinants of health,"said Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health. "By bringing fresh produce and wellness resources directly to the community, The Beth Greenhouse has empowered residents to make healthier choices while creating a more accessible and sustainable food system. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and the lasting impact it has had on the health and well-being of Newark families.”
Beth Greenhouse at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
In addition to sustaining The Beth Greenhouse’s service to Newark families, the health system plans to replicate its greenhouse model in Toms River in 2027 in partnership with Sadie Vickers Resource Center, helping hundreds of families experiencing food insecurity access and grow healthy food.
About Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is a 665-bed regional care teaching hospital that provides comprehensive health care. Newark Beth Israel is a Top Teaching Hospital and home to one of the nation’s top 15 heart transplant centers, which has performed more than 1,100 heart transplants; RWJBarnabas Health’s Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program; New Jersey’s only Advanced Lung Disease and Transplant Program and a Valve Center that performs complex cardiac valve procedures, including minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs). Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is also home to Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), which cares for children from birth through adolescence, with more than 30 specialized pediatric services including New Jersey’s largest Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; and the Children’s Heart Center that offers a complete range of medical and surgical treatments for the most complex cardiac abnormalities. The Newark Beth Israel robotic surgery program is the most experienced in northern New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health and The Frederick B. Cohen, MD, Comprehensive Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Breast Health Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. Newark Beth Israel also offers many preventive health programs that promote wellness in the community, including The Beth Greenhouse, which provides access to fresh produce and health and wellness education to local residents.
Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), located at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, cares for children from birth through adolescence, with more than 30 specialized pediatric services including New Jersey’s largest Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; and the Children’s Heart Center that offers a complete range of medical and surgical treatments for the most complex cardiac abnormalities. Children’s Hospital of New Jersey also includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Level IV Regional Perinatal Center that offers New Jersey’s only Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy; and the highest level of intensive care for both mothers and newborns.
To learn more visit rwjbh.org/NewarkBeth.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state's largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health's commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org.
Contact: Linda Kamateh
Linda.Kamateh@rwjbh.org
862.212.2013