ORGANIC MARKET BOOSTS BOROUGH

BX. FARMYARD

ORGANIC MARKET BOOSTS BOROUGH

By JENNIFER FERMINO
MAIZE DAYS: Sisters Dalia, 4, and Leslie Jiminez, 7, sample ears of fresh corn at the newly opened Bronx farmers' market yesterday. Photo: Robert Miller MAIZE DAYS: Sisters Dalia, 4, and Leslie Jiminez, 7, sample ears of fresh corn at the newly opened Bronx farmers' market yesterday.
Photo: Robert Miller

July 20, 2006 -- The Bronx is budding.

The borough celebrated the grand opening of its first organic farmers' market yesterday in Mott Haven at Brook Park.

"You walk along 138th Street and you see one fast-food place after another," said Marian Feinberg, environmental health coordinator for the nonprofit For A Better Bronx, one of the groups that opened the market.

"This really is a neighborhood with very few nutritional resources."

Because of that, the area has the highest diabetes and obesity rates in the city, she said.

The South Bronx Community Market - in Brook Park on 141st Street - aims to fight that, one locally grown broccoli stalk at a time.

And judging from the crowds yesterday clamoring for the fruits and veggies, Bronxites are ready to join the battle.

"I want to be healthy," said Jelani Holder, who's only 17 but already sick of the unwholesome fare, such as pizza and fried chicken, being peddled around the corner.

"I don't like takeout food. Too greasy," he said.

John Jackson, 12, said he plans on hitting the market for his carrots and cucumbers. "At the supermarket, it's not organic," said the young gourmet.

The market will be open on Wednesdays, from noon to 7 p.m., until Nov. 1.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday was packed with stroller-pushing mothers, do-rag-topped teens and elderly women in hats and sundresses.

Peter Kostmayer, president of the nonprofit Citizens for NYC, handed over a check for $6,000. In addition, the group gave $2,000 in coupons to needy residents.

Beverly Small, 52, was rejoicing. She used to schlep all the way to Bowling Green in Manhattan to get produce at a farmers' market there.

"This is like a godsend for me," said Small, as she loaded up on beets, peaches and tomatoes. "I'm diabetic, so this comes in handy."

She said all the green goodness reminds her of old home in Jamaica.

"Anywhere there's a farmers' market, I'm there," she said.

A lot of the food comes from farms upstate, but not all.

Bronx-grown cucumbers, garlic, thyme, oregano - from a community garden called El Girasol, on 138th Street and Cypress Avenue - was being sold as well.

"The market increases the capacity of our community to feed and care for itself, to come together to tackle some of the health problems that many of us face, and to support local farmers and community gardeners," said Molly Culver, the coordinator of South Bronx Community Supported Agriculture.

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com