GrowNYC: For a Cleaner, Healthier New York City

GrowNYC is a hands-on non-profit organization dedicated to improving New York City's quality of life through environmental programs. Named a “Four Star Charity” by Charity Navigator, GrowNYC was founded in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City. It was originally a policy-based organization, writing comprehensive reports about quality of life issues such as traffic, noise, and air quality. For the past 40 years, GrowNYC has been transforming communities and empowering New Yorkers to create a clean and healthy city for future generations. Understanding that a healthy environment starts with healthy citizens, the non-profit has several programs focused on improving the well-being of the Big Apple's residents.


In an effort to get nutritious, fresh, and affordable food into the hands of more New Yorkers, GrowNYC's Greenmarket initiative operates over 50 farmers markets throughout the 5 boroughs. The markets also give small family farms the opportunity to sell their local produce directly to customers. Almost every Greenmarket farmers market accepts EBT (food stamps) and debit/credit cards. Additionally, Greenmarket operates one of the most robust wireless EBT redemption programs in the country, works with the City of New York to distribute Health Bucks, and is the largest redeemer of NYS WIC and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks in the state.

Aiming to improve the health of young New Yorkers through nutrition education and improved food access, GrowNYC's Learn It, Grow It, Eat It empowers teens to take control of their health and help others do so. In this hands-on education program, teens participate in gardening, outreach, nutrition classes, and managing a community farm-stand. GrowNYC has also partnered with the Mayors Fund and several government agencies to establish Grow to Learn NYC, an interactive website and resource for any public school looking to build and sustain a school garden.