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BUFFALO, NEW YORK; May 19, 2010-Headed by the Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Buffalo area community partners, including area businesses, organizations, churches, and residents of the Delavan-Grider community have joined together to establish the Farmers' Market at Grider through which it is hoped that the community will be Growing Healthy Together, as its tagline states.  

The Farmers' Market will be open every Friday, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., from May 21^st through October 29^th, 2010.  On Friday, May 21, through July 2, 2010, the Farmers' Market at Grider will be situated in ECMC Visitor Parking Lot "A," in front of the main ECMC entrance, nearer to Grider Street.  Members of the faith community will initiate the opening with blessings over this timely endeavor.  In addition to local farmers selling their vegetables, plants and flowers, and homemade breads and baked goods, a $6 per meal bar-b-que lunch (½ chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, roll and butter) will be available. 

On July 9^th, 2010, a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Farmers' Market at Grider, with attendance from various city, county, and state dignitaries, will be held in its all new, permanent location on a paved and fenced-in lot across from ECMC on the east side of Grider Street (between Kensington and East Delavan Avenues, adjacent to the Ephesus Ministries and former Catholic Charities buildings).  In addition to on-going activities of the Farmers' Market at Grider, also for July 9^th, highlights will include tai-chi and cooking demonstrations, and a bicycle giveaway (through Green Options Buffalo) for neighborhood children, as well as other activities/entertainment yet to be announced. 

Long recognized as a fresh food desert in the City of Buffalo, the Delavan-Grider neighborhood and its residents will now have access to fresh, wholesome, locally grown produce.  The Farmers' Market at Grider is "a market place that offers a variety of approaches to healthy living," as explained in the organization's mission statement.  Proposed by ECMC Corporation CEO Jody L. Lomeo, the purpose of the market is to: increasing access to healthy food; promote healthy lifestyles; create an engaging, interactive community gathering place; and inform/educate the community on health/wellness and green initiatives. 

Implementation of the outdoor market is expected to encourage the development, promotion, and expansion of direct marketing of critically needed agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers in this community.  The project also supports "growing farmers" through education and distribution of plants; and serves to promote business growth, community building, and healthy, nutritious dietary consumption. 

The ECMC Corporation includes an advanced academic medical center (ECMC) with 550 inpatient beds and 136 skilled-nursing-home beds, on- and off-campus health centers, over 40 outpatient specialty care clinics and the Erie County Home, a skilled nursing facility.  ECMC is the regional center for trauma, burn care, rehabilitation and is a major teaching facility for the State University of New York at Buffalo.  Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the University.  More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and customer service provided as a result of its Culture of Care. 

EVENT CONTACT: Rita Hubbard-Robinson at 716-898-3509 or rhrobins@ecmc.edu

NEWS CONTACT:  Joe Cirillo at 716-898-4300 or jcirillo@ecmc.edu