Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is celebrating a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of The Beth Greenhouse, the health system’s pioneering hydroponic urban farming initiative.
Since its inception, the greenhouse has produced more than 50,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce for Newark residents and patients, playing a vital role in combating food insecurity and promoting wellness across the city.
Producing over 5,000 pounds of crops annually, the sustainable greenhouse yields a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs—ranging from lettuce, kale, and tomatoes to strawberries and Swiss chard.
The harvest directly supports community health through several local channels:
-
Hospital Farmers Market: Held every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Newark Strong Lobby, the market makes fresh produce accessible and accepts SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits alongside City Green’s Good Food Bucks program. Over the past decade, the greenhouse and market have served 3,000 benefit users.
-
Nutrition Education: Produce is actively utilized in hospital cooking and wellness classes, including Hannah’s Kitchen at NBIMC.
“For the past decade, The Beth Greenhouse has been more than a source of fresh, healthy food. It has been a symbol of our commitment to improving community health and addressing food insecurity across Newark,” said Darrell Terry, Sr., president and CEO of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.
Building on the proven success of the Newark model, RWJBarnabas Health announced plans to replicate the hydroponic greenhouse initiative in Toms River by 2027 in partnership with the Sadie Vickers Resource Center, bringing fresh food access and growing resources to families in Ocean County.
“The Beth Greenhouse has become a staple and lifeline for Newark families, demonstrating that innovative community investments can tackle social determinants of health,” added Barbara Mintz, MS, RDN, Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health.
