FoodChange’s Harlem S.O.U.L. (Sustainable Organic Uptown Local) Food Project connects Harlem with New York State farmers to bring healthy, fresh and affordable foods to low-income New Yorkers and maintain the profitability and viability of New York’s agriculture.

Health statistics indicate that Harlem experiences above average rates of diet-related ailments such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and obesity, while affordable and wholesome foods are not readily accessible locally. In order to create a healthier Harlem, it is essential to bring in a food supply that is diversified, healthy and nutritious and to establish healthy eating habits.

The Harlem S.O.U.L. Food Project provides a model for other Harlem institutions, purchasing farm-fresh produce directly from upstate farmers so that its clients have access to locally grown produce, and anchoring the project’s expansion throughout the community.

In addition to giving Harlem’s low-income community access to a fresh and healthy food supply, the S.O.U.L. Food Project also benefits the New York farm community whose very existence is threatened by large-scale agribusiness. The project provides local farmers a sustainable, dependable outlet for their harvested products throughout the growing season.

All year long, FoodChange buys directly from upstate farmers to supply our Healthy Dining and Food Pantry programs, which are located at the Community Kitchen at 252 West 116th Street (between 7th Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard).

For more information, contact Jesse Taylor, Senior Director, Community Kitchen/Senior Meals, at jtaylor@foodchange.org.