NYCEDC Seeks Proposals for Food Festival in Hunts Point Section of the Bronx
Food Festival Could Create New City-wide Destination Event and Promote Connections between Retailers and Wholesale Food Distributors
New York City, July 26, 2012 – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an event organizer and operator to plan a food festival in the parking lot of the New Fulton Fish Market located in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. This is the first RFP issued by NYCEDC solely seeking to utilize one of its properties for the purposes of a food festival. The goal is to capitalize on the momentum from other food-related events around the city such as festivals, food truck events, weekly farmers markets, and prepared foods pop-up stands.
“Hunts Point is an ideal location for a new food festival in New York City, creating a strong and important connection between the growing number of food entrepreneurs and the City’s main food distribution hub,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “Food festivals have already proven themselves to be extremely popular events in neighborhoods all across the City, and this site now offers an incredible opportunity to build upon that popularity with an exciting event that will greatly benefit Hunts Point and the entire Bronx.”
“We’re proud of the food-related businesses that call the Bronx home, and through this festival we look forward to showing off what they do to the rest of the City,” said Congressman José E. Serrano. “With the range and variety of foods and products, this is sure to be a great event that our community and indeed whole City can enjoy.”
"In New York City, food festivals and markets kick-start economic activity, showcase local neighborhoods, and attract new consumers to the host neighborhoods," said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "This proposed event has the potential to further connect Hunts Point commercial activities to the surrounding neighborhood and we're excited to see that EDC is continuing its commitment to creative uses for city-owned properties."
“As the home to the Hunts Point market--largest food market in the world--the Bronx is already responsible for feeding the entire region. Our borough has so much to offer foodies of all stripes, and is home to some of the best cuisine in the world. This event will be a great way to showcase the wonderful tastes—from all over the nation and indeed the world—that our borough has to offer. I look forward to welcoming foodies from across the region to taste all the great gourmet options available from our restaurants and food producers on a daily basis, right here in the Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“The New Fulton Fish Market is the crown jewel of fresh seafood sales nationally, and we are excited by the potential to host the new visitors and vendors which a food festival in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center would bring. This event offers the opportunity for our market to gain more exposure with New York area consumers and hopefully attract more vendors to shop at our market in the future,” said George Maroulis, Market Manager at the New Fulton Fish Market.
Successful responses to the RFP will: raise the profile of the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center; create new connections between wholesalers and food producers; and create a destination event for the local community, the Bronx, and the rest of the city. An event concept and/or vendor line-up that showcases locally-based food producers, food vendors and community partners is also encouraged. The RFP is looking for proposals for a one-day event and prefers an event organizer who could activate the space as early as Fall 2012, but longer concepts at later dates are also acceptable.
The portion of the New Fulton Fish Market parking lot available for the event is located 800 Food Center Drive and is approximately 4.5 acres. The New Fulton Fish Market is located within the Hunts Point Peninsula, which is home to approximately 800 businesses and over 13,000 employees, as well as a residential community of approximately 12,000 residents. Approximately half of the Peninsula is occupied by the City’s primary food distribution facility, the 329-acre Food Distribution Center, which serves over 23 million customers in the greater metropolitan region. The Food Distribution Center is one of the largest such centers in the world, comprised of over 115 private wholesalers operating from the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market, the Cooperative Meat Market, and the New Fulton Fish Market, who generate more than $3 billion in combined sales annually. The Food Distribution Center is also comprised of parcels leased to other major food and beverage distribution companies like Anheuser-Busch, Baldor Specialty Foods, Krasdale Foods, Citarella, Sultana, and Dairyland, a subsidiary of Chef’s Warehouse. The Hunts Point Peninsula also has a number of open spaces, including Barretto Point Park, Hunts Point Riverside Park, and soon to open Hunts Point Landing.
The New Fulton Fish Market parking lot is also located adjacent to 600 Food Center Drive, where NYCEDC recently issued an RFP for the development and operation of a rooftop farm. At approximately 200,000 square feet, the rooftop has the potential to accommodate what could be one of the largest rooftop farms in the world.
To obtain a copy of the RFP, please visit: www.nycedc.com/rfp. Responses are due no later than August 24, 2012.