Green Carts are mobile food carts that offer fresh produce in certain New York City areas. Local Law 9, signed by Mayor Bloomberg on March 13, 2008, establishes 1,000 permits for Green Carts.
A Green Cart can only sell raw fruits and vegetables such as whole carrots, bananas, apples and berries. Frozen or processed produce is not allowed. For food safety reasons, Green Cart operators cannot cut, slice, peel or process fruits or vegetables on the cart.
To operate a Green Cart, you need a valid mobile food vending license and a Green Cart permit. Each Green Cart permit allows a cart to operate in one New York City borough only. Within each borough, Green Carts can operate only in certain designated areas (PDF) [Español] [中文][عربي][বাংলা] [اردو].
A total of 500 full-term permits will be available in 2008: 175 permits for Brooklyn, 175 for the Bronx, 75 for Manhattan, 50 for Queens, and 25 for Staten Island. Beginning in July, 2008, these permits will be issued to individuals who have applied to be on the Green Cart waiting lists. In 2009, 500 more Green Cart permits will be available.
We encourage you to participate in this program to improve healthy food options for New Yorkers!
The Green Carts Program aims to increase availability of fresh fruit and vegetables in New York City neighborhoods so that more New Yorkers can buy fresh fruit and vegetables close to home. For more information about the Green Carts legislation, the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, and studies of healthy food access, see the following publications:
