Yankees Unveil New Yankee Stadium Tower Garden

 

All photos by Jason Schott.

On Monday afternoon, the Yankee Stadium Tower Garden was unveiled inside Gate 2, with attendees including Yankees pitchers Michael King and Nestor Cortes.

The structure uses the vertical, aeroponic garen system of Tower Farms, which allows for the growth of healthy, fresh produce that  requires minimal resources. For more information, check out www.towerfarms.com. Items grown in the space will be served to fans in select menu items beginning in June, most notably in salads found at Yankee Stadium "grab-and-go" locations.

Yankee pitcher Michael King learning about the structure from students in the Green Bronx Machine. 

The garden will be used to provide a hands-on learning experience for students who take part in the New York Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program. This teaches children how to prepare and incorporate healthy, sustainable and affordable meals into one's lifestyle, and it will serve young people from New Settlement (www.newsettlement.org), a Bronx nonprofit organization that aims to break systemic barriers, advance justice, promote leadership and strengthen neighborhoods in The Bronx. To further reinforce the lessons provided in the New York Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program, New Settlement will receive Tower Garden equipment at their facility.

For more information on the New York Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program, check out www.mlb.com/yankees/community/healthy-lifestyles.

Yankee Stadium's Legends Hospitality supports the Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program, with kitchens in Yankee Stadium utilized as classrooms with Legends Senior Executive Chef Matt Gibson engaging young people with hands-on cooking demonstrations. Each student participant receives a personalized chef's jacket, a cookbook of healthy recipes, a bag filled with provisions to provide healthy meals at home, a gift card from Peapod and tickets to attend a Yankees game.

The Green Bronx Machine assisted in curating the Yankees Healthy Home Plate Program, and it is a nonprofit organization founded by life-long educator Stephen Ritz, who observed the effect of students' food choices on scholastic performance, engagement, and ambition. 

Nestor Cortes chats with Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, as Michael King signs an autograph. 

Originally an afterschool, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into a full K-12+ indoor gardening curriculum. For more information, check out www.greenbronxmachine.com.

Nestor Cortes signs an autograph for a student in the Green Bronx Machine program.

Michael King trades his Yankee cap for a cool Green Bronx Machine farmer's hat.

Michael King rocking his new headwear.

Michael King and Nestor Cortes talking to the students in the Bronx Green Machine.