| Prime Produce Guild Hall | |
| Abbreviation: | Prime Produce |
| Formation: | 2016 |
| Type: | Nonprofit, Cooperative |
| Location: | 424 W 54th St, NY, NY 10019 |
| Website: | https://www.primeproduce.coop/ |
Prime Produce Guild Hall, also known as Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative and Prime Produce, is a community co-working organization and event space based in New York City.[1]
Prime Produce consists of two organizational bodies. One is an incorporated nonprofit that runs the co-working collective, cybernetics library, and community space in the building.[2] [3] The second is a cooperative that manages their building located at 424 West 54 Street.[4]
Co-founded by Jerone Hsu, Prime Produce is listed in the Dramatists Guild directory describing itself as "support[ing] entrepreneurs, educators, and artists who share values of service and hospitality" by offering event and practice spaces.[5] [6] Prime Produce has hosted art exhibitions, screenings, staged readings, business networking events involving Pennsylvania's Lafayette College, and career panels for Cornell University.[7] [8] [9] [10]
Prime Produce hosts Earthlings NYC, a turtle restoration project that cares for NYC turtles in need by rehabilitating them in the Prime Produce space before re-releasing the turtles into the wild or to permanent homes.[11]
In 2022, Jamaican eatery Cafe 424 opened for business in the cafe space on the first floor of Prime Produce serving Jamaican cuisine.[12]
Since 2023, Prime Produce has hosted meetings and events presented by the local Wikipedia chapter, Wikimedia New York City.
On New Year's Eve 2023, Prime Produce welcomed in 2024 with a "Cosmic Turtle Drop," descending a translucent turtle sculpture with multicolored lights inside. The ceremonial turtle drop took place in front of the Prime Produce building. The choice of the turtle references the turtle rehab work of Earthlings NYC and the history of Turtle Island in indigenous North American folklore. After the turtle descended, the attendees congregated in the Prime Produce guild hall to watch films that had newly entered the public domain in 2024, starting with Steamboat Willie.