Yes, it’s true. New York City is going green – with Green Carts. What are they? Green Carts are a convenient way to bring, affordable, healthy food like fruits and vegetables to low-income neighborhoods in New York City.

I say hooray!! This is really great news – especially when more than half of adult New Yorkers are either overweight or obese. It is well documented that overweight and obesity increases a
person’s risk of developing many conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and heart disease.

Poor neighborhoods have higher rates of obesity and more deaths due to diabetes and heart disease than more affluent neighborhoods. About 13% of adults in East Harlem and 12% in Central Harlem have diabetes, compared with 9% of adults citywide and only 3% on the Upper East Side (a wealthier neighborhood next to East Harlem).

There are two main reasons for more obesity in low-income neighborhoods: fewer safe places to exercise and less access to healthy food, including fresh fruits and vegetables. The availability, price and quality of food in the immediate neighborhood has a strong impact on a persons’ diet.
If McDonalds is readily available and offering a dollar meal – well the reality is, that’s where many people will spend their limited resources.

Good news is these Green Carts will provide low-income neighborhoods with fresh fruits and vegetables that are convenient, affordable and of good quality.

For those of you living in New York with an entrepreneurial spirit you can become a Green Cart Vendor. Applications are being accepted now through October 3, 2009. Just click here for more information.

New York City farmers markets are another great way for low-income families to get locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The farmers market season in New York is July 1 – November 15, 2009. During that time for every $5 a person spends using EBT (Food Stamps) at a participating farmers market they will receive a $2 Health Buck to spend on fruits and vegetables. This is also a great way to encourage the purchase of fruits and vegetables and promote farmers markets too. Just click here to find participating farmers markets in New York City.

Farmers markets are a great way for anyone to go green and enjoy locally grown seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. When we eat green we help the environment and ourselves. To find out what’s in season near you just use the food finder below. To find a farmers market in your area just click hear.

What’s Fresh Near You

Find out what’s fresh and ripe where you live, right now.