THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021 Page 7 Everett Community Growers to cut ribbon on new farm and farm stand I n collaboration with the City of Everett and the Everett Public Schools, Everett Community Growers (ECG) announced the grand opening of their new farm and farm stand on Broadway. ECG will be cutting the ribbon on its new location at 548 Broadway in Everett on Saturday, June 12 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will include Everett residents, ECG members and city officials, including Mayor Carlo DeMaria. ECG is a community-based food justice organization working to improve health and racial equity through urban agriculture, youth workforce development, and equitable policy change. In ECG’s efforts to provide nutritious, low-cost, locally grown produce to the residents of Everett, it has announced its new location on Broadway in Everett while its original location on the Northern Strand Community Trail is being rebuilt. ECG hopes to use this location to continue to partner with the City of Everett, the Everett Public Schools and local organizations to engage community members and residents in food justice work. “A major factor in determining good quality of life is easy access to ample healthy food sources. Everett’s 46,000 residents are exceptionally diverse, both in ethnicity and income, and meeting the food needs of such a diverse population is a challenge,” said DeMaria. “This new facility is a testament to the work that Everett Community Growers has done to help us address that challenge and is another step to meeting our community’s needs.” The product of a collaboration between ECG, the City of Everett and the Everett Public Schools, the farm has 22 raised beds for ECG staff (including a six-member Youth Crew) to plant, grow and harvest produce for donation to local food pantries and distribution through their farm stand. The ECG Farm Stand is the only vendor in Everett to accept the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers to earn money back on their Electronic Benefits Transfer cards when they purchase locally grown produce. In addition to HIP and SNAP, the farm stand also accepts Pandemic-ElecThe new farm on Broadway sponsored by the Everett Community Growers. (Photo Courtesy of the City of Everett) tronic Benefits Transfer, credit cards and cash. “We are incredibly excited to cut the ribbon on our newest facility today and expand access to healthy, low-cost, culturally appropriate food to Everett residents,” said ECG Operations Manager Kathleen O’Brien. “This is an excellent example of how partnerships can serve our residents, and it was made possible by Mayor DeMaria, the Everett Public Schools and the outstanding staff at the Department of Public Works. We are deeply thankful for their commitment to making this happen.” About Everett Community Growers ECG believes that everyone in Everett should have access to healthy, affordable, food options. By creating spaces across the city for growing food and engaging community members, ECG works to improve food access, build community among diverse residents and help raise up marginalized voices in public processes, while repurposing underused urban spaces. ECG currently operates one urban farm and two community garden locations in Everett, and membership is composed of residents and other local organizations committed to food justice and racial equity work. ECG is generously supported by the Massachusetts Community Health & Healthy Aging Funds, the Merck Family Fund, Project Bread, the Hunger to Health Collaboratory, the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, the Everett Citizens Foundation and various individual donors. To learn more about ECG and its new farm, community garden locations and other food justice work, visit www.everettcommunitygrowers.org.
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