INVESTING LOCALLY
Fresh, decadent, gourmet pies, mouthwatering macaroni and Gouda cheese, and refreshing organic lime beverages are scrumptious signs of local vendors touting their wares at the new Whole Foods location at W. 125th St. and Lenox Ave. in Harlem.
Along with its wide range of food, including organic produce, the new store — which opened July 21 - is sharing space with —close to 100 local ethnic food firms. The inclusion of these businesses was made possible through a collaboration with Harlem Park to Park, a local network of entrepreneurs in culture, culinary arts and commerce.
Nine merchants operating out of Harlem’s Hot Bread Kitchen Incubator, a commercial kitchen and business space, were among the companies chosen.
Clinton Shabazz - affectionately known as “The Harlem Pie Man” for his wickedly wonderful bean, apple, butternut squash and pecan pies - is one of the Incubator participants selling products in Whole Foods.
“The first day was fantastic,” said Shabazz. “From all accounts, they [Whole Foods] said my product was moving selling like ‘hotcakes’. In fact, I put my first order in on a Thursday, by Saturday, they called me for a second order. For me, it was great. For the store [The Harlem Pie Man], business-wise it was great.”
Also at the high-end supermarket’s Harlem branch will be hearty, authentic West African soups – including Engusi melon seed and Obe Ata West African tomato – from Yemisi Awosan’s Egusi Foods (photo, above). And there are packaged Southern “comfort foods with a twist” from Chimere Ward’s Clean Plate Company, including smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese; spicy, smoky black-eyed peas with flavors like cilantro, and braised greens with pickled carrots.
The Whole Foods store will also sell the multitalented Vy Higgensen’s Mama’s One Sauce, an all-purpose marinade available in mild, spicy and fire. Some proceeds from bottles sold will benefit her Mama Foundation for the Arts organization, which provides free training in the arts in Harlem.
A variety of culturally inspired bottled drinks made with non-GMO organic ingredients are available. The thirst-quenchers include Limation by Charmaine DaCosta, Jamaican-inspired limeades in flavors that include watermelon, lavender and half-tea versions, and Ginjan, a traditional West African drink by Mohammad and Rahim Diallo that is made with ginger, lemon and anise.
“It was surreal to be involved,” said Ward of Clean Plate Co. “I’m not just coming to shop; I’m actually on the shelves. I’m excited because I hope people will buy it. It’s like a food utopia to withstand all that competition. It’s fun too, but pressure for a vendor, because it is business at the end of the day.”