SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Some locals in Syracuse have been doing their part in combating food insecurities throughout the city, especially with the summer months on the horizon.
Today marked World Hunger Day across the globe, which sheds light on the over 1 billion women and children who face undernutrition in the cycle of chronic hunger.
According to Feeding America, 43 percent of households in Syracuse have to choose between paying for food or for other expenses. The poverty line continues to rise in the city with over 60% of homes having annual incomes under $18,000.
Even with those staggering numbers, civilians on Syracuse’s south side don’t have much opportunity to purchase foods that provide proper nutrition. Longtime resident Trudy Eudwell became outraged about not having a grocery store in a five-mile radius, with little options to eat other than fast food.
“There’s not many options [to eat] from here to downtown… the only ones that I can think of are a Burger King, Little Ceasars, and McDonalds,” Eudwell said. “If you don’t eat healthy foods, you get sick. If you eat fast food all the time or go to a corner store, they don’t have any options of healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. You just can’t get that in our neighborhood.”
When the local Tops Friendly Markets on South Salina Street left town in 2018, the community was substituted a Dollar General for its produce. That was until during the pandemic when Rhonda Vesey decided to start Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now to retaliate against allowing fellow south siders to have no other choice but to buy from there.
“In the span of three years, we’ve made tremendous progress,” Vesey said. “All of our connections in politics or out in the community agree that there is a problem and continues to help our mission because they believe in us. We’ve still got a long way to go.”
Vesey and her team of volunteers are prepping for their summer farmers market that runs from June 29 until October. Every Saturday locals can pick up fresh fruits and vegetables free of charge due to the organization’s continued efforts of providing people with necessary foods to live a healthy life.
“Hopefully it gives folks in our community a sense of pride. To have an activity like this close to home is huge for the parents, single parents, and the kids. We are hoping to make even a bigger splash this year to get the word out so people know who we are and where we are located,” Vesey said.
The Downtown Syracuse Committee plans to continue to have its annual summer farmers market as well starting on June 11. Communications associate Vanessa Szwejbka has seen the event rebound from COVID-19 to new heights with visitors from all over Central New York coming to the market every Tuesday.
“That’s what we love about the farmers market is how accessible it can be for everyone,” Szwejbka said. “Even if you need transportation to the downtown area, you aren’t paying a lot of money for fresh produce that is grown locally in our area. It’s an option that is extremely affordable and that’s why it continues to get bigger and bigger each year.”
For more information on each of the respective farmers markets, click on the links below for more information.
Downtown Farmers Market | Downtown Committee of Syracuse (downtownsyracuse.com)
Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now | Facebook
