Brookfield Properties and GrowNYC Freshen Up Downtown Manhattan with New Greenmarket at The World Financial Center

NEW YORK, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brookfield Properties and GrowNYC today celebrated the opening of the World Financial Center Greenmarket, a community market featuring ten local farmers from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  The World Financial Center Greenmarket offers fresh, organic foods and plants including vegetables, fruit, orchids, hydrangeas, baked goods and meats every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through November 24th.  Throughout the summer and fall, the Greenmarket will provide workers, community residents and visitors interactive cooking demonstrations, delicious food and wine tastings on Manhattan's most spectacular waterfront seating.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100715/NY35795 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100715/NY35795 )

"We're excited to partner with GrowNYC to bring a local Greenmarket to the residents and workers of Lower Manhattan," said Dennis Friedrich, Brookfield Properties' president and chief executive officer of U.S. Commercial Operations, at a special ribbon-cutting celebration today at the World Financial Center. "Brookfield is continually looking at ways to enliven our waterfront by bringing fine food, entertainment and amenities to the community. We began by bringing three unique food kiosks to the World Financial Center plaza in June. The Greenmarket is yet another step in our vision of giving people more ways to enjoy its unique waterfront access. "

"I am delighted to celebrate today the launch of this wonderful new market here in Battery Park City.  Amenities such as this market – which brings people into the streets, meeting their neighbors, and helping local farmers – are what truly make the kind of world-class community that we have here in Lower Manhattan," said New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. "The World Financial Center Greenmarket will give our residents access to quality, locally produced food for their families and will give us the opportunity to teach our children about the importance of healthy eating and sustainable food production."

"The waterfront is one of the things that makes Battery Park City such an amazing place to live, and I'm thrilled Brookfield Properties and GrowNYC have given residents another way to enjoy it,"  said Julie Menin, Chairperson of Community Board 1.  "The World Financial Center Greenmarket has an incredible array of local food and wine purveyors and as more people hear about it, I know it will only get bigger and better."

"GrowNYC is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a Greenmarket to Battery Park City," said Michael Hurwitz, Director of Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC. "We're grateful to all those that helped make this a reality for the community, one which has been seeking a Greenmarket for years. This market expands our presence in Lower Manhattan and will serve its residents for years to come."

Additional attendees at today's Greenmarket celebration event included New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, Battery Park City Authority President and CEO James E. Cavanaugh and Alliance for Downtown New York President Elizabeth H. Berger.

Local purveyors at the World Financial Center Greenmarket include:

• Migliorelli Farm, Tivoli, NY (fruits and vegetables)
• Meredith's Bakery, Kingston, NY (fresh bread and baked goods)
• Red Jacket Orchard, Geneva, NY (fruit, juices and assorted bottled goods) 
• Binder Farm, Suffolk County, NY (homegrown plants and flowers)
• Beth's Family Farm, Stuyvesant Falls, NY (jams and preserves)
• NY Wine & Grape Association
• Holten Farms, Westminster, VT (vegetables, fruit, maple syrup, honey, eggs, baked goods and meat, including beef, turkey, pork, chicken and lamb)
• MK Orchid Farm, Orange County, NY (orchids and hydrangeas)
• Valley Shepherd, Long Valley, NJ (sheep, cow and goat cheese, pasta, butter, yogurt and gelato)
• Lavender by the Bay, Marion, NY (fresh lavender and assorted lavender products)

For more information on the World Financial Center Greenmarket, please visit http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com. The Greenmarket will be open every Thursday from July 1 through November 24, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

About World Financial Center

The World Financial Center, owned and operated by Brookfield Properties, is the premier business address in New York City, encompassing eight million square feet in four unique copper-crowned granite and glass office towers designed by Cesar Pelli. The Center features extensive public spaces such as the Winter Garden, is surrounded by an outdoor waterfront esplanade along the Hudson River, and boasts unparalleled amenities. The Center is home to 40 restaurants, brand name retailers and specialty shops as well as the nation's largest privately funded free arts program.

Brookfield Properties Profile

Brookfield Properties owns, develops and manages premier office properties. Its current managed portfolio is comprised of interests in 93 properties totaling 70 million square feet in the downtown cores of New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa, making it one of the largest owners of commercial real estate in North America. Landmark assets include the World Financial Center in Manhattan, Brookfield Place in Toronto, Bank of America Plaza in Los Angeles and Bankers Hall in Calgary. The company's common shares trade on the NYSE and TSX under the symbol BPO. For more information, visit www.brookfieldproperties.com.

About GrowNYC

Winner of the EPA's 2010 Environmental Quality Award, GrowNYC is a hands-on non-profit which improves New York City's quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

For 40 years, GrowNYC (formerly Council on the Environment of NYC) has been rolling up its sleeves alongside NYC residents to:

• Provide access to healthy, fresh, local food for all New Yorkers;
• Grow and maintain vibrant green spaces and community gardens;
• Help New Yorkers recycle more and reduce waste;
• Create the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on education programs.

SOURCE Brookfield Properties