Harvest: An RWJBarnabas Health Farm to Community Center

Harvest: An RWJBarnabas Health Farm to Community Center is a collaboration between RWJBarnabas Health and Newark-based farm-to-city social enterprise Urban Agriculture Cooperative (UAC) to tackle the pressing issue of food and nutrition insecurity and improve overall health outcomes for residents living in the Greater Newark area and beyond.

Harvest is centrally located in the historic Hahne & Co Building in the heart of the Halsey Creative and Commercial Corridor in Downtown Newark. The space is designed to serve as a hub for community-driven initiatives that enhance access to fresh, healthy foods and comprehensive nutrition and wellness education, promoting overall health and wellbeing. Simultaneously, Harvest will support urban and rural Garden State growers, restaurateurs and other food business entrepreneurs, helping to strengthen the regional food economy.

This first-of-its-kind initiative takes an innovative, holistic approach to addressing the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related chronic disease for individuals and families who lack consistent access to affordable, nutritious food – especially fresh fruits and vegetables. The initiative demonstrates the importance of cross-sector partnerships in agriculture, education and health care when addressing food insecurity, a key social determinant of health, providing not only physical access to healthy food but also the tools, knowledge and resources for sustainable change in health outcomes at an individual and community level.

Key Features of Harvest

• Farm-to-Table Distribution Center: Centralized hub used by UAC to store, package and distribute Jersey Fresh produce, eggs, meats and other foods to local food pantries, schools, medical institutions and nonprofit partners. Includes over 2,100 square feet of processing, distribution and storage space with walk-in refrigerators, freezers and a compost room to support sustainability.
• Buy Local: Anchor institutions and small-to-medium sized corporations can procure fresh produce for their office or facility dining needs, supporting local NJ farmers and maintaining year-round demand for their products.
• Wellness Offices: Designated meeting rooms for registered dietitians and SNAP navigators, offering services like nutrition education, meal preparation guidance, diabetes management and family and new mother support. Community Health Workers can meet with residents to connect them with health care, coordinate medical appointments, and access transportation and other health and social services.
• Teaching Kitchen: Fully equipped kitchen for cooking demonstrations, nutrition education classes, and lunch-and-learns. Serves local students, community groups and organizations through on-site programs.
• Industrial Kitchen: State-of-the-art facility where local chefs, caterers, food entrepreneurs and culinary students can reserve space by the hour or through membership to enhance their operations, support their businesses and take advantage of training opportunities.
• Hire Local: In addition to small business development for local restaurateurs and entrepreneurs, the hub promotes job creation within the space and surrounding businesses.
• Office and Meeting Space: Dedicated areas to support operations, host community partners and facilitate presentations and convenings.

For inquiries, please contact:

• Barbara Mintz, Senior Vice President, Social Impact and Community Investment, RWJBarnabas Health at Barbara.Mintz@rwjbh.org
• Anthony Capece, Director, Harvest, at Anthony.Capece@rwjbh.org

Keep a lookout for more details as the opening approaches!