Year-Round Market and Local Food Education Center: Expanding economic opportunity and
healthy food access in Downtown Albuquerque

Proposal: This Project is a collaboration between the Downtown Growers’ Market “Market”, a program of the DowntownAbq MainStreet and Arts and Cultural District, and Three Sisters Kitchen (“TSK”), a non-profit community food education center. In 2021, the Market and TSK expanded their partnership in order to address increasing demand for accessible local food, small business development, local food manufacturing, and community food education in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.

Background: Downtown Growers’ Market (“Market”):

Over 25 years, the Downtown Growers’ Market has grown from 20 vendors to over 200, bringing fresh, locally grown and produced foods and, local wellness and arts products to Albuquerque, and attracting over 2,500 customers per week to Robinson Park. During this pandemic, the need to support more vendors, along with an increasing demand for locally grown and prepared foods, (including a doubling of those utilizing food access assistance like SNAP and EBT) became evident. Forced to reject, waitlist, juggle and alternate a growing list of vendors whose products meet quality standards, the need for growth was clear. With the market at Robinson Park at full capacity, an additional space is needed to continue Market growth and support the local businesses and micro entrepreneurs who are sidelined by current capacity and seasonal limits. Market expansion will provide greater healthy food access, increase opportunities for low-income food assistance, and support small local businesses in meaningful ways. 

Site Proposal:

The Market and TSK have identified a location, adjacent to Robinson Park, the Market’s existing home. For over 15 years, the site has been a neighborhood nuisance that has amplified a lack of investment in the area. Adjacent to supportive housing and along the City’s major transit line, the site provides an ideal and accessible location for the proposed Local Food Campus:

• Year-Round Growers’ Market expanding on the seasonal market at Robinson Park;

• Multi-Use Indoor/Outdoor Pavilion to host Markets and Community Events;

• Local Foods Shop providing produce & local food offerings from the Market & local producers;

• Small café

• Small Food Business Center providing a one-stop shop for trainings + resources for aspiring food business entrepreneurs;

• Community Classrooms for indoor and outdoor culinary, nutrition, food business, and home gardening education;

• Commercial Kitchens for newly launched manufactured food businesses;

• Health Trails, Edible Landscaping, and Community Gathering spaces to host multi-generational programs.