Easter in a box brings healthy food choices to downtown Niagara Falls

Marilyn Broome’s basket overflowed with brightly coloured fruits and vegetables as she shopped inside the GROW Community Food Literacy Centre in downtown Niagara Falls on Saturday, and it didn’t cost her an arm and a leg.

The 83-year-old, who has dealt with “some health issues” not uncommon for an octogenarian, said healthy eating is vital at her age. The only problem is that eating healthy costs much more: a couple of peppers in a supermarket can cost more than a big bag of potato chips you could live on for a day if need be.

“I eat three fruits for breakfast every day,” said Broome, one of dozens of people who waited patiently in line outside for their chance to shop at GROW’s weekly market.

On this particular day, many of the shoppers opted for a special “Easter in a box” package featuring a ham, wild rice, potatoes, Lindt chocolate, peppers, carrots, onions, a freshly baked loaf of Italian bread from Commisso’s and either a pumpkin gingerbread loaf or apple cobbler made by students at the Denis Morris Catholic High School hospitality and tourism program.

Worth about $75, the meals — sponsored by local real estate agent and volunteer Rose Iannacchino, in large paper bags supplied by Prima Wrap — cost GROW clients just $5, said John Turner, a volunteer member of the market’s community advisory board.

Broome, who has been a regular at the Saturday morning markets since GROW opened in 2020 with a goal of providing healthier food choices in the downtown, said access to fresh fruit and produce at a price she can afford is important. On Saturday, shoppers could pick up plump tomatoes the size of soft balls or large pears for 10 cents each, and three peppers that can cost $4 or more at a supermarket were going for just 75 cents.

“I think it’s life-saving,” said Broome. “My husband is semi-disabled, so I have to pay people to do all my maintenance now, so it’s costing me extra for snow removal, grass cutting.”

GROW allows her to be able to afford food she otherwise would have to forgo, said Broome.

“It’s good because it’s the necessities, fruits and vegetables,” she said. “It’s good quality here. If you compare the prices, you’ll never find anything better than here.”

Laura Oberlein, a professional sommelier at a local restaurant, showed up at 7 a.m. as a volunteer to prepare the market’s offerings for clients.

She said it’s important to give people living downtown, where there are high rates of disabilities or chronic illnesses such as diabetes, healthier food choices they can actually afford.

“It’s cheaper to eat garbage food,” she said. “(But) if you eat healthy, you’ll stay healthy.”

By shopping at the GROW market, clients can get enough good food to last them until the next Saturday, said Oberlein.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “They have enough healthy food for the whole week, which I love.”

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