GrowNYC

What GrowNYC does

GrowNYC is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit founded in 1970 and headquartered in New York City, operating a network of sustainability programs that promote access to farm-fresh food, community gardens, and environmental education across all five NYC boroughs. The organization serves more than 3 million New Yorkers annually through four core pillars: Food and Farmers (45+ seasonal and year-round Greenmarkets, 14+ farmstands, and a Wholesale Food Hub that distributes 2.6 million meals per year to nonprofits, institutions, restaurants, and businesses); Green Space (180+ community gardens and green spaces built since 1985, including the GrowNYC Teaching Garden on Governors Island with innovative 40-foot shipping container gardens); Education (food, garden, youth, and waste-diversion programming reaching 350,000+ New Yorkers); and Food Access (SNAP/EBT acceptance, Health Bucks matching up to $10/day, FMNP, FreshConnect, and Healthfirst OTC programs that redeemed $5M+ in nutrition benefits annually). The underlying technology is urban agriculture and sustainable food distribution infrastructure rather than software, supported by a B2B platform integration with Local Food Marketplace for wholesale ordering and Google Forms for farmer inquiries.

GrowNYC's business model is a hybrid of charitable contributions and program-generated revenue. As a nonprofit, the organization relies on donations from individuals and corporations, institutional grants (e.g., Farm Aid, 2024-12-12), and government partnerships to fund operations, while also generating transaction-based revenue through the Wholesale Food Hub (mission-driven B2B produce distribution) and farmers market operations (SNAP/EBT processing and vendor fees). The go-to-market motion is community-led: GrowNYC reaches customers through physical market presence across boroughs, word-of-mouth, community partnerships (Trust for Public Land, KaBOOM!, NYC Parks GreenThumb, NEBHDCo, Cypress Hills LDC, Mayor's Fund to Advance NYC), earned media (WNYC 'In Season' podcast, Brooklyn Paper, Food Tank), and a multi-channel digital presence (website, Axioshq newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, plus LinkNYC/TaxiTV PSAs). Customer segments span NYC general public consumers, regional farmers and producers (230+ in network), community gardens and neighborhood groups, and institutional buyers in food service, healthcare, and education.

Leadership is provided by Chairman Robert Kafin and President & CEO Marcel Van Ooyen, with governance from a Board of Directors. The organization has received Candid Platinum Transparency 2026, BBB Accredited Charity status, and Charity Navigator recognition, and was named to Food Tank's 126 Food and Agriculture Organizations to Watch. Operating since 1970, GrowNYC has built a 50+ year track record as NYC's most comprehensive urban agriculture and food access nonprofit, with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity funding rounds.

Name

GrowNYC

Legal name

GrowNYC

Website

https://grownyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GrowNYC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that operates 45+ Greenmarkets, a Wholesale Food Hub, 180+ community gardens, and education programs serving 3 million+ New Yorkers across all five boroughs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture & Food Access Services

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural, Organic & Health Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAK), Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail (CRAHAEAD), Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAM)

Keywords

• Urban agriculture programs
• Farmers market operations
• Wholesale food distribution
• Community garden services
• Food access initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: GrowNYC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and institutional grants to fund operations, programs, and community services.
2. Wholesale Food Distribution: Mission-driven wholesale food distribution providing fresh produce to nonprofits, institutions, restaurants, and businesses across all NYC boroughs, generating revenue while fulfilling mission.
3. Farmers Market Operations: Operating 45+ seasonal and year-round Greenmarket farmers markets across five boroughs, with SNAP/EBT benefits redemption generating $5M+ annually that supports farmers and low-income New Yorkers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

GrowNYC operates a network of 45+ seasonal and year-round farmers markets (Greenmarkets) and farmstands across all five NYC boroughs, giving consumers direct access to fresh, locally-grown produce from regional farmers. It runs a Wholesale Food Hub that aggregates and distributes fresh produce to nonprofits, institutions, restaurants, and businesses across NYC. The organization also builds and restores community gardens, delivers education programs in food, gardening, youth, and waste diversion, and supports food access through SNAP/EBT acceptance and Health Bucks matching.

Product overview

GrowNYC operates a multi-faceted network of environmental programs organized around four core pillars: Food and Farmers, Green Space, Education, and Wholesale Food Distribution. The flagship Greenmarkets program is a network of 60+ seasonal and year-round outdoor farmers markets across all five NYC boroughs, complemented by Farmstands at additional neighborhood locations. The Wholesale Food Hub serves as a B2B aggregator and distributor to nonprofits, institutions, restaurants, and businesses. The Teaching Garden on Governors Island demonstrates innovative urban agriculture through shipping container gardens and serves as an educational facility. Food Access Initiatives expand nutrition program participation through SNAP, Health Bucks, and other benefits. The Education pillar encompasses Food & Nutrition Education, Garden Education, Youth Education, and Waste Diversion Education programs. The Green Space program builds and restores community gardens with infrastructure like raised beds and rainwater harvesting systems. The Annual Plant Sale supports community gardening efforts. These programs collectively serve over 3 million New Yorkers while supporting regional farmers and advancing urban sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Greenmarkets A network of 45+ seasonal and year-round outdoor farmers markets operating across all five NYC boroughs, connecting consumers directly with regional farmers selling fresh produce and farm products. Accepts SNAP/EBT and Health Bucks nutrition benefits.
• Wholesale Food Hub A mission-driven aggregator and distributor providing reliable, transparent, and sustainable supply of high-quality fresh produce and farm products to nonprofits, institutions, businesses, and restaurants across all NYC boroughs.
• GrowNYC Teaching Garden

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million+ New Yorkers reached annually across five boroughs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NYC Parks GreenThumbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC Parks GreenThumb is the nation's largest urban gardening program that supports community gardens across NYC. GrowNYC partners with GreenThumb to support gardens, share resources, and coordinate on community green space initiatives. GrowNYC redirects community garden inquiries to GreenThumb for involvement or support.
• Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust for Public Land has partnered with GrowNYC on multiple community garden and playground projects, including the Plant-A-Lot program. The organization helps secure land for community gardens and provides support for garden development.
• Mayor's Fund to Advance NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowNYC partnered with the Mayor's Fund to Advance NYC on projects including the City Hall Children's Garden at Tweed Courthouse, demonstrating collaborative city-supported initiatives.
• Cypress Hills Local Development CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, GrowNYC built out multiple community gardens including Ashford Learning Garden (2,250 sq ft), Chestnut Street Community Garden (3,750 sq ft), and Glenmore Grown Garden (5,000 sq ft).
• KaBOOM!majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowNYC has partnered with KaBOOM! on multiple playground and garden builds across NYC, including Grote Street Playground and Garden in the Bronx where 200+ volunteers built the entire space in one day.
• NYC Mushroom NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYC Mushroom Network for mushroom log inoculation activities at the Governors Island Teaching Garden, supporting hands-on urban agriculture education.
• KODA LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with KODA Lab on Art Making with Fermentation program at the Governors Island Teaching Garden, combining urban agriculture with creative arts education.
• WNYCmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNYC produces the 'In Season' podcast featuring GrowNYC Greenmarket Program & Publicity Manager Amelia Tarpey, providing regular coverage of seasonal produce and market spotlights to WNYC's audience.
• Sam Silverman StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative partner for SNAP PSA campaign visuals displayed on LinkNYC kiosks and TaxiTV screens across NYC, supporting food access awareness campaigns.
• Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCo)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with NEBHDCo for community garden development in East New York, including multiple garden builds and the Kosciuszko Community Park/Learning Center renovation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City Harvest: NYC-based food rescue nonprofit focused on feeding food-insecure New Yorkers through direct distribution and nutrition education. Comparable to GrowNYC's food access mission and wholesale/distribution infrastructure, though City Harvest leans more heavily on rescued surplus food versus GrowNYC's farmer-direct model.
• Food Bank for New York City: Largest NYC hunger-relief organization, operating wholesale food distribution, SNAP outreach, and nutrition education programs across the five boroughs. Direct peer to GrowNYC on food access, institutional distribution, and nutrition benefits redemption scale.
• FRESHFARM: Washington DC-area nonprofit operating farmers markets, food access programs, and wholesale distribution with SNAP/EBT matching. Operates a nearly identical Greenmarket-style model in a different geography, making it the closest comparable to GrowNYC's market-plus-food-access portfolio.
• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit running farmers markets, nutrition education, and healthy food retail initiatives across the Northeast. Comparable to GrowNYC on multi-program urban food access model with farmers markets as a primary touchpoint.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit pioneering SNAP/EBT doubling programs (similar to GrowNYC's Health Bucks) at farmers markets nationwide. Direct peer on nutrition incentive innovation and farmer market food access infrastructure.
• DC Central Kitchen: DC-based nonprofit operating a community kitchen, food distribution to schools and nonprofits, and culinary job training — a similar wholesale-plus-education structure to GrowNYC's wholesale hub and youth education programs.
• Hunger Free America: National hunger-relief advocacy and direct service nonprofit with strong NYC presence, operating SNAP enrollment and food distribution programs. Comparable to GrowNYC on food access advocacy and nutrition benefits infrastructure.
• Local Food Hub: Virginia-based nonprofit food hub aggregating and distributing local farm produce to institutions, restaurants, and food access programs. Closest peer to GrowNYC's Wholesale Food Hub on the B2B aggregation and distribution model.

Emerging players

• Corbin Hill Food Project: NYC-based nonprofit food distributor focused on bringing fresh produce from upstate NY farms to underserved NYC communities. Directly comparable to GrowNYC's Wholesale Food Hub on sourcing geography and target customer base.

Others

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation and creating parks and gardens in cities — a direct partner and adjacent peer to GrowNYC on the community garden and green infrastructure build side.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GrowNYC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grownyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/grownyc
• TikToktiktok.com/@grownyc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GrowNYC