Gathered Local Foods Market

Farmers can grow great produce and consumers can want to eat it, but if transportation and retail access are not available the connections get lost.  Today most food we eat travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to plant.  That's too far when we live in a place that can grow nearly anything!

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In June 2026 we will be opening the first step of connecting consumers to local producers with Gathered Local Foods Market.  You can place orders online with a variety of farmers and producers of local products and pick up once a week at our convenient Knoxville location.  Our hope is to supplement our local farmers market and farms stands by offering a convenient option to consumers and introduce them to local foods that aren't typically available at larger grocery stores and retailers.

 

It's just the first step as we are researching impactful ways to increase markets so farmers want to grow more food for local consumers.  We are researching solutions for:

• commercial kitchen space

• food hub to assist with transportation, consolidation and value added prep work

• develop restaurant and institutional buyers for local producers

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Supply and demand are complicated issues to solve especially when you add in government subsidies and long standing ideas about what and how to grow food.  New markets also take a fair amount of infrastructure and coordination.  Stay tuned for updates as we work to provide solutions that give consumers fresh, local nutrient dense foods and allow farmers to grow it at a price they can live on.