Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Westchester / Putnam / Dutchess New York

Local, Organic CSA Selling Spring Shares in NY: Purple Dragon Co-op makes local, organic produce available to its customers all year long

Northeasterners often think of fresh, local produce as a seasonal luxury. But Purple Dragon Co-op makes local, organic produce available to its customers all year long. “It is harvested in the fall and carefully stored,” says General Manager Janit London. “This food costs less than organic food from far away because it does not have to travel from California. For 29 years, Purple Dragon Co-op has bought fruits and vegetables from small, regional growers for more than a thousand member families.”

There are Purple Dragon neighborhood groups (“pods”) in Blauvelt, Hastings, Montrose, New City, South Nyack and Pearl River, NY, and joining, hosting or starting a pod simply requires contacting the co-op, London says. A weekly “share”—enough for families with children and at least two adults—costs $52 to $57 per delivery. The host household earns a $40 discount each delivery, while dividers can earn a $30 discount each delivery, and members can receive discounts for friends who join.

 “Every other week, members get a lovely selection of organic fruits and vegetables from small regional and other farms at prices close to wholesale,” London says. “The boxes often include a more interesting variety than you can find elsewhere, and there are a thousand other products members can buy through our store at PurpleDragon.com.”

People joining now for the period ending June 30 will receive a joining bonus of free Himalayan Pink table salt. Contact Purple Dragon at 973.429.0391 or [email protected] for an information packet.