What is a Food Co-op?
A Food Co-op is a group of families buying food together and sharing the labor involved to save money and/or to get better products or products normally unavailable in their area.

What is Purple Dragon Co-op?
Purple Dragon Co-op was formed in 1987 to bring natural foods into our area at prices closer to wholesale. In 1989, we began working to improve the availability of exquisitely fresh organic produce for our members. Janit London, a songwriter and veteran of many food co-ops, with 20 years experience in the Natural Foods business, designed Purple Dragon’s unique format, i.e., a new low-labor co-op model that works for today’s busy families.

I’ve Seen Other Groups Like Yours. 
How is Purple Dragon Co-op Different?
Purple Dragon originated the idea of a mixed produce variety basket that has been copied all over our area and has become a national trend. We buy from many local organic and ecological farmers and work closely with them to support their efforts to grow food in an ecologically sound manner in our own community.

We also shop up and down the East Coast, eastern Canada, the rest of the US, Europe, New Zealand, and Israel, and buy from certain farms in Central and South America and the Caribbean. When in doubt about a grower’s authenticity, we double-check certifications with reliable sources in the industry. We work to provide you with the finest and most interesting variety of organic produce available.

We work constantly to refine and improve our service. We welcome your suggestions. We are also different in that we are the only group that is really a co-op. Our members actually work (see “How much do I have to work?”) This allows for lower prices, and better quality produce, and we get to meet people with similar interests in our area. It is also a chance to be closer to nature by handling the beautiful fruits and vegetables soon after they arrive from local farms.

Another difference is that we stand up for what we believe. We recycle all office paper, use only recycled paper, return crates to farmers and support environmental and organic farming associations, including the Organic Trade Association, CAFF, Sierra Club, NYCAP, NCAP, NOFA, American Farmland Trust, and the NJ Organic Farming Association.

Health Services

Medical Health / Wellness / Nutrition

Last Updated: 10/18/23