The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded a $325,000 grant to the Middle Country Library Foundation to expand nutrition education, gardening and wellness programming, marking the opening of Sprouts Farmers Market’s first New York store.
The three-year partnership is expected to reach roughly 62,000 residents served by the Middle Country Public Library system. Sprouts’ debut New York location opened last month in Centereach on Long Island.
“The cornerstone of this partnership will be helping people learn real world skills to make healthier choices in their everyday lives,” said Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, Director of the Middle Country Public Library. “Sprouts’ investment is transformational and will allow us to scale our gardening and nutrition education programs in a way we’ve never been able to do until now.”
Central to the initiative is the construction of a 600-square-foot educational greenhouse designed to anchor hands-on learning. The space will host workshops and lessons that connect gardening, nutrition and environmental education for community members of all ages.
Indoor and outdoor garden beds will support year-round programming, including seed starting, edible home gardening and composting in small spaces. Cooking classes using seasonal produce grown on site, along with fresh ingredients from the new Sprouts store, will help participants develop practical meal-preparation skills.
“Positive experiences like growing, tasting and preparing fresh nutritious food help spark a desire to make healthier food choices for people at any age,” said Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. “These moments not only build skills, but they also build community, and we’re thrilled to play our part.”
The partnership will also fund seasonal events and ongoing educational opportunities, including a Let’s Eat: Farm to Table exhibit opening February 21st, annual Spring Jubilee and Fall Festival celebrations, workshops and nutrition programs co-hosted with Sprouts, and Green Teens volunteer initiatives such as tree planting, butterfly garden maintenance and greenhouse support.
“Being a part of our community is core to Sprouts values and one of the ways we bring our purpose of helping people live and eat better to life,” said Nick Farley, store manager of the Centereach Sprouts. “Our entire store team is looking forward to getting involved and building meaningful connections through this partnership.”
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation works with community-based organizations to advance nutrition education and health and wellness initiatives in the markets where Sprouts operates. In 2025, an estimated six million youth and two million adults participated in foundation-supported programs. Since 2015, the foundation has awarded $50 million in grants.
Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market operates more than 450 stores across 24 states.
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