Farm to People
In the past, summer meant visiting the farmers' market and meandering among stalls brimming with colorful fruit, getting free samples, and talking to farmers who could explain exactly how they cultivated their food. Even though the pandemic has been abating, our purchasing patterns have been permanently altered because we now frequently order items online or over the phone in place of going to a physical store. There isn't anything that can replace the tradition of buying your own vegetables at the farmers' market, but there is a delivery service that comes very close.
Brooklyn-based Farm to People offers the greenmarket experience without you ever having to leave your apartment. Produce CSAs (community-supported agriculture) of all sizes are delivered by Farm to People to Manhattan, as well as select areas of Brooklyn and Queens. The boxes can include produce that is in season and organic, as well as protein and supplies. Produce, in particular, comes from farms that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), organic, and regenerative. One of the best things about Farm to People is that they pay their farmers $0.50 for every $1 sold on average (higher than the $0.13 per consumer $1 spent that farmers collect through traditional retail channels). You have the option of purchasing products à la carte or subscribing to a service, in which case you can remove items you aren't interested in and add others.
Michael Robinov
Michael Robinov, along with his father, David Robinov, and cofounder Anina von Haeften, established Farm to People in 2013. Michael Robinov was inspired to start the company after spending time working at the Union Square farmers’ market in New York City while he was a high school student. He was also influenced by his father, who was a pioneer in the natural food scene.
Farm to People has also launched Farm to People Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant serving the same premium, freshly chosen foods that consumers have come to love since its founding. A network of over 150 farms provides the ingredients for the cuisine at the restaurant. The space is the antithesis of the "dark store" movement and invites people to dine in, in an effort to further connect them with their food. Chef Matt's menu includes items like a Sumac Smash Burger, Yuzu Tarragon Potato Salad, Baby Gem Salad, lots of natural wines, and craft beers. “Food brings us all together,” said Michael Robnov, as he was giving a tour of the new space.
Farm to People Kitchen & Bar is located at 1100 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 and open Friday 5 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m.-12 a.m., and Sunday 2 p.m.-10 p.m.
