Building a Just and Sustainable Food System for NYC!

Who We Are

Just Food is a non-profit organization that connects communities and local farms with the resources and support they need to make fresh, locally grown food accessible to all New Yorkers. Just Food provides regional farmers and food producers, CSA organizers and everyday eaters with the resources and support they need to establish and experience healthy food systems—in every neighborhood.

What We Do   

Since 1995, Just Food has pioneered and championed the proliferation of sustainable food programs, including CSAs, community-run farmers’ markets, and farm-to-food pantry programs. Just Food serves thousands of New Yorkers by forging partnerships between local farms, neighborhood groups, and consumers, and by providing urban communities with a framework for growing, and knowing, healthy food.

Our Programs

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in NYC
CSA supports regional family farmers and creates access to nutritious food for New Yorkers of all income levels. CSAs buy shares in a farmer's growing season and in return receive weekly neighborhood deliveries of fresh produce and other locally, sustainably grown products. Just Food trains groups to start and run CSA projects. Since 1996, we have helped to start over 100 CSA sites in NYC.

City Farms
In the 1940s, Victory Gardens produced 43 percent of our nation's fresh produce during times of food shortages; communities have the capability to achieve similar successes to combat hunger and malnutrition right here in NYC today. The City Farms program trains and provides services and support to community garden groups to start and run successful farmers’ markets, trains skilled gardeners to teach their communities to grow food, and coordinates free urban agriculture workshops in low-income communities.

Fresh Food for All
Just Food helps food pantries and other emergency food programs make fresh, nutritious, locally-grown food available to families and individuals in need. In addition, this program provides additional markets for our farmers and teaches cooking skills and nutrition information to food pantry staff and clients. This vital programming, which provides more than 50 food pantries and community organizations with fresh produce, is made possible in part through a grant from the NYS Department of Health's Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and a partnership with the United Way of NYC.

Community Food Education
The Community Food Education program inspires and empowers New Yorkers to create simple, delicious, and healthy meals for themselves and their families. Just Food trains community members from diverse backgrounds to become “Community Chefs.” Once trained, the Community Chefs present cooking demonstrations at farmers’ markets, community gardens, food pantries, and community events.

Food Justice
Just Food increases awareness and action around food and farm issues and advances policies for a thriving local food system. Because of our efforts, NYC residents have become more informed advocates for local, regional, and national farm issues through Just Food’s newsletters, workshops, conferences, and trainings.

Farm School NYC
Farm School NYC is a two-year educational program for adults that is dedicated to training new experts in the field of urban agriculture. As the school continues to grow, it will serve as a resource and support for NYC food growers, increasing urban food production and access, and encouraging cities to recognize and support urban agriculture.