Sue Pronovost ‘s Brass City Harvest is growing produce on three acres in the city. All of their food goes to helping thousands of people in need at soup kitchens, food pantries and farmers markets. Still it is not enough, so a 40,000-square-foot food hub is being built in the South End.
"It is going to go in an area that’s been neglected and ignored for a number of years,“ said to Mayor Neil O’Leary.
Commercial greenhouses will be outfitted with hydroponics for year-round growth.
"There will be a community kitchen," said Pronovost. "Classroom aspects so that we can extend nutrition outreach.”
It is the first-of-its-kind in the state, which is the only state in New England without one. In addition to the food, it will grow jobs and revenue for a city that isn’t well-known for produce.
The project has already received grant money for studies on the proposed property by the Mill River.
If it works, organizers hope that this may be the first step in giving Waterbury a different nickname.
