Schools out, Summer days in New York City are here! ☀ In honor of the sunny days, GrowNYC put together some ways to get involved in your community and live more sustainably during the warmer months. 

1. Visit your nearest GrowNYC Greenmarket

Nothing screams summer like a visit to a farmers market! The year-round GrowNYC Greenmarket network is growing, offering more seasonal delights directly from farmers from May through November. Throughout the season New Yorkers (and visitors) can find a bounty of fresh, local products at Greenmarkets throughout the city.

Since 1976, this vital food access program has bridged the connection between small farmers and New Yorkers! GrowNYC works with over 200 regional producers to transform open space across the five boroughs into vibrant centers of community activity, ensure fresh, local food is accessible to all New Yorkers, and provide a crucial sales channel for farmers and producers in the Northeast.

All GrowNYC Greenmarket locations accept SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC cards (LIP and CC members only), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, Fresh Connect Bucks, and Greenmarket Bucks. Customers using SNAP/EBT/P-EBT that spend $2, receive a bonus $2 Health Buck, up to $10 per day.

2. Plan a visit to GrowNYC’s Teaching Garden

The GrowNYC Teaching Garden on Governors Island is a one acre urban farm that aims to engage, excite, and educate its visitors in all aspects of environmental education, urban farming, and climate action.

The Teaching Garden is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM - 4 PM, starting Saturday, May 4 until October 27.

• All ferry passengers ride free on the Governor Island’s Ferry from Manhattan on Saturdays and Sundays before noon. Making this an fun and accessible environmental weekend activity for all New York City families, visitors, and anyone interested in immersing themselves into an urban oasis. 

• Have a chance to purchase an array of just-picked vegetables, herbs, and fruits from GrowNYC’s donation-based farmstand! Pay what you wish. The produce you'll find at the Farmstand was planted by NYC students during their field trips to the Garden.

3. Join your nearest community garden

NYC is home to the largest community garden network in the nation and there's no time like the present to join or visit your nearest community green space!
Interested in joining or visiting one of NYC's 600 existing community gardens? Find one at NYC Parks GreenThumb or check out GrowNYC’s garden map to see what green spaces we’ve worked with in the past.

4. Volunteer with GrowNYC and other mission-driven organizations

Interested in volunteering with GrowNYC? Get involved in your community and join one of our online orientations where we will provide information about GrowNYC, local agriculture and food access, as well as current and upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Orientation is open to all, however, GrowNYC volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Volunteer orientation is required to participate in our volunteer opportunities.

5. Become a Friend of GrowNYC

Friends of GrowNYC commit to making a recurring gift of $15 or more every month. When you give monthly, you support GrowNYC programming year-round, from planting to harvest season!

What are the benefits? Friends of GrowNYC receive an exclusive GrowNYC cotton canvas tote bag, as well as invitations to members-only online and in person events throughout the year.

GrowNYC’s New York State Regional Food Hub (The Hub) is entering the final stages of development and is expected to open in the Fall of 2024. 

The Hub represents a significant milestone in GrowNYC's ongoing efforts to bolster and protect our foodshed through a two-part mission: regional farm viability and equitable access to locally-grown foods for all New Yorkers.

GrowNYC currently distributes 2.6 millions pounds of produce to 300 customers, 90% going to other organizations working to expand food access and fight food insecurity. The Hub will provide critical infrastructure to dramatically increase our impact.

Help us reach our fundraising goal to create an essential pathway to food access for generations to come: https://www.grownycfoodhub.com/ 

If you’re a local business or non-profit interested in sourcing from us, please visit www.grownycwholesale.org/source-from-us

GrowNYC today published its 2023 Impact Report, which outlines how the non-profit continues to address environmental challenges through its programs in Food Access & Agriculture, Education, Zero Waste, and Green Spaces. The report provides statistics and details on how GrowNYC continues to work side by side with New York City agencies, communities, and partners to create a more sustainable and climate resilient City, and inspires change on critical environmental issues.

The report highlights GrowNYC’s ongoing efforts to build significant momentum both citywide and nationally to inspire environmental action. As a leading environmental organization in New York City, GrowNYC provides opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages to understand and connect with the life cycle of our environment, plants, food, and nutritious eating.

“All New Yorkers deserve a city filled with green space, opportunities to live sustainably, and access to affordable, nutritious food. The work our 200+ staff does across the city every day inspires me and keeps me going,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, President & CEO of GrowNYC. “I hope when you read ahead you too are inspired by how individual participation in our programs makes a huge impact.”

Impact Report 2023 highlights include:

• We operated 66 food access locations across the 5 boroughs working with 207 regional farms, giving New Yorkers nearly 3,000 unique opportunities throughout the year to access fresh local foods.  

• We distributed 2.6 million of local food distributed through our Food Hub – 90% food sourced from the Hub went to organizations dedicated to expanding food security across our City.

• We collected 2.2 million pounds of food scraps for composting, reaching 24 million pounds of food scraps diverted from landfills since 2011.

• We engaged and prepared 459,500 kids and adults in environmental stewardship.

• We renovated 30 community gardens and built 7 new gardens across Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan, totaling 46,500 square feet of green space added to our city landscape.

• GrowNYC sites redeemed $4.3 in nutrition benefits that went directly into farmers’ pockets. These benefits make local food accessible to low income New Yorkers through the promotion and acceptance of nutrition benefits, incentive coupons, and credit cards.

READ THE FULL REPORT

It's farmers market season in New York City!

GrowNYC Greenmarkets 
GrowNYC's year-round Greenmarket farmers markets are growing as farmers bring additional delicious fruits and vegetables to market every day, and our seasonal Greenmarkets have begun opening. New Yorkers (and visitors!) can find a bounty of fresh, local products at Greenmarkets throughout the city. 

Check out individual market webpages for daily farmer attendance and information about upcoming activities such as cooking demonstrations and family-friendly programming.

GrowNYC Farmstands
GrowNYC Farmstands are part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC, along with Greenmarket sites. Through Farmstands, GrowNYC sells fresh, affordable food in underserved and under resourced neighborhoods across NYC. The food sold at Farmstands is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. This vital food access program also offers important job opportunities for New Yorkers, ensures healthy, fresh food access across the city, and provides vital revenue for family farms in the Northeast.

All GrowNYC Greenmarkets and Farmstands accept SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC cards (LIP and CC members only), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, and Greenmarket Bucks accepted.
Spend $2 in SNAP/EBT/P-EBT, get bonus $2 Health Buck, up to $10 per day.

We’re on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Follow us for up-to-date news.

It's farmers market season in New York City!

GrowNYC Greenmarkets 
GrowNYC's year-round Greenmarket farmers markets are growing as farmers bring additional delicious fruits and vegetables to market every day, and our seasonal Greenmarkets have begun opening. New Yorkers (and visitors!) can find a bounty of fresh, local products at Greenmarkets throughout the city. 

Check out individual market webpages for daily farmer attendance and information about upcoming activities such as cooking demonstrations and family-friendly programming.

GrowNYC Farmstands
GrowNYC Farmstands are part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC, along with Greenmarkets and Fresh Food Box sites. Through Farmstands, GrowNYC sells fresh, affordable food in underserved and under resourced neighborhoods across NYC. The food sold at Farmstands is grown by farmers in the Northeast and transparently sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. This vital food access program also offers important job opportunities for New Yorkers, ensures healthy, fresh food access across the city, and provides vital revenue for family farms in the Northeast.

All GrowNYC Greenmarkets and Farmstands accept SNAP/EBT, Debit/Credit, Healthfirst OTC cards (LIP and CC members only), WIC & Senior FMNP coupons, and Greenmarket Bucks accepted.
Spend $2 in SNAP/EBT/P-EBT, get bonus $2 Health Buck, up to $10 per day.

GrowNYC Fresh Food Box 
GrowNYC Fresh Food Box sites are also part of a network of food access retail sites operated by GrowNYC. Through Fresh Food Box, customers pay one week in advance for a pre-assembled box of healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables grown primarily by regional farmers and sourced through GrowNYC Wholesale. The program allows customers to take advantage of the cost benefit of buying in a group and enjoy the flexibility of a weekly commitment while supporting farmers. All Fresh Food Box sites currently operate year-round. 

We’re on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Follow us for up-to-date news.

Our Impact

For over 50 years, we have believed that everyone can make a positive impact and that collective action is necessary to secure a clean & healthy environment for future generations.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations to support our work:

• Conservation: We work to make it second nature for all New Yorkers to lead environmentally conscious lifestyles through conservation of our natural resources.
• Education: We engage all New Yorkers in environmental stewardship and education to win the fight against climate change.
• Food Access & Agriculture: We create opportunities for all New Yorkers to be active participants in creating an equitable food system that supports small farms and keeps people and the planet healthy.
• Green Space: We help NYC schools and neighborhoods create and maintain gardens, bringing people together, creating beauty, combating climate change, and adding vital green space to our city.

Becoming a monthly donor is the most sustainable way to support our programs! Monthly donations provide support for our work all year long, and allow us to set more ambitious, long term goals.Thank you for making our work possible. Scroll down for alternative ways to donate.

Prefer to donate by mail? Write your check out to:

GrowNYC, P.O. Box 2327, New York, NY 10272

GrowNYC is also eligible to receive donor advised funds. Use the DAF Direct portal below or make a grant recommendation to your donor advised fund for GrowNYC today.

You can also help protect the future of NYC and ensure your legacy will live on in green spaces, food access and agriculture, education, and conservation by making a bequest to GrowNYC.

For more information call 212-788-7900 x253 or email.

Contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Come out and hear Jazz Foundation musicians playing at GrowNYC Greenmarkets!

The Jazz Foundation of America, a non-profit organization based in Manhattan, provides retired professional jazz musicians with the opportunity to continue performing.

Through their "Gig Fund," the Jazz Foundation produces free, “pop-up” performances for underserved audiences. The shows take place in public spaces as opposed to traditional and costly venues, and engage new audiences who would not otherwise have the chance to hear these accomplished players. We are thrilled to announce the schedule of performers coming out to GrowNYC Greenmarkets. 

FALL SCHEDULE JAZZ FOUNDATION
AT GROWNYC GREENMARKETS 

Presented in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America, with partial support from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council

In Person Field Trips Are Back!

Greenmarket School Tours

Join an interactive tour to learn more about local agriculture and fresh, local food.

Dates: September – December, Weekdays

To request an in person field trip, please fill out this registration form.

Virtual Tours and Self Guided tours of neighborhood Greenmarkets are also available.

Adult tours at citywide Greenmarket locations are also available here.

Teaching Garden on Governors Island Tours

Join us for a hands on learning experience on our urban farm.

Dates: September – November, Weekdays

To request an in person field trip, please fill out this registration form.

Virtual Tours and Farmer Talks are also available. 

Please note: All GrowNYC tour leaders are fully vaccinated and masks will be worn at all times for everyone’s safety.

GrowNYC is excited to announce the selection of Angela Davis as its new Director of Retail Food Access and Agriculture. Angela replaces Michael Hurwitz, who is leaving GrowNYC after nearly 15 years of distinguished service to Greenmarket’s farmers and customers. 

Davis is a nonprofit and public-sector leader with more than 14 years of experience managing programs and initiatives that increase food security, expand equitable access to healthy food, and support a more sustainable local food system. She will begin with GrowNYC this month. 

"We are thrilled to be able to bring this highly talented and seasoned executive into GrowNYC to oversee our Greenmarkets and their related food access programs,” said Robert Kafin, Chair of GrowNYC’s Board of Directors. 

Since 2017, Davis served as the Director of the Division of Food & Nutrition at the Jersey City Department of Health & Human Services (JCHHS). She oversaw healthy food access initiatives and federal nutrition programs, including Meals on Wheels, the Congregate Senior Lunch Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. In this role, Davis also managed Jersey City's relationship with its independently run farmers markets and the neighborhood nonprofit organizations participating in the Adopt-a-Lot community gardening program. Prior to working at JCHHS, she spent almost a decade overseeing food and nutrition education programs for Just Food, a New York City food justice nonprofit.  

“Angela’s wealth of relevant experience and skills will help sustain our commitment to providing a continuing supply of fresh, local produce for New Yorkers, as well as support for local farms, farmers, and sustainable agriculture,” said GrowNYC President and CEO Marcel Van Ooyen. 

“I am honored to become the new Director of Retail Food Access and Agriculture as GrowNYC celebrates Greenmarket's 45th year of service to New York City residents and local farmers said, Davis.  "I look forward to working with GrowNYC staff, board, farmers, and community stakeholders to ensure equitable access to the freshest, healthiest food while strengthening regional farm viability." 

Over her 27-year career, Davis has served a variety of institutions, including SEIU Local 32BJ, the National Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and the Children's Defense Fund. Davis has a Master of Education degree from George Washington University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College, and a certificate in Culinary Nutrition from the Natural Gourmet Institute. She is a 2009 Environmental Leadership Program Fellow. GrowNYC is thrilled to have her on the team.