A Food Hub for Archuleta County: Bringing Community and Healthy Foods Together
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Key Benefits of a Local Food System
- • Supports local businesses, including farmers, ranchers, and food producers
- • Increases access to healthy foods and reduces food deserts
- • Promotes community engagement and social connections through shared spaces and activities
- • Encourages sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices
- • Fosters economic viability and growth for local food businesses
Archuleta County is working towards creating a robust local food system that supports community members in accessing healthy foods, grows local food businesses, and promotes economic viability. A key component of this system is the development of a community food hub, which could provide infrastructure for local food businesses and engage community members in the local food system.
Why Do We Need a Food Hub?
- • Community members have expressed a need for a community commercial kitchen to support cottage food producers, caterers, food trucks, and others
- • A central market where farmers, ranchers, and food producers can sell their products would increase access to local, healthy foods
- • Community members want to learn how to grow their own foods, preserve them for later use, and prevent food waste through strategies like composting
- • A food hub can provide shared spaces for communal activities, events, and community gatherings
Archuleta County has been researching the concept of a food hub, and in early 2025, Healthy Archuleta was awarded a one-year planning grant from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). This grant has enabled the establishment of the Food Hub Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC), a community steering committee that includes town and county representatives, local food producers, food stakeholders, and other community members who have expressed interest in this project.
The Food Hub CLLC
| Food Hub Community Learning and Leadership Circle (CLLC) | The Food Hub CLLC is a community steering committee that is responsible for gathering community input and developing a project plan for the Food Hub. The CLLC is composed of town and county representatives, local food producers, food stakeholders, and other community members who have expressed interest in the project. |
The CLLC has been reviewing information gathered by Healthy Archuleta, including the 2024 Community Survey and results of the Food Hub Needs Assessment. Several conceptual designs have been developed for consideration, and the CLLC has been reviewing those designs, sharing insights on potential locations, infrastructure, and operational features.
Conceptual Designs
- • Onsite commercial kitchen for local food businesses and cottage food producers
- • Indoor and outdoor growing spaces for year-round fresh produce and educational sessions
- • Space for ready-to-eat foods from local food trucks, indoor food vendors, and a retail market for local foods
- • Central dining area for community gathering that can also be used as an event space for communal activities
- • Educational and recreational areas for families, such as an outdoor playground, outdoor dining spaces, and classes on gardening, food preservation, healthy cooking, and related topics
Some potential locations for the Food Hub have been identified, and the CLLC is considering these options as part of the planning process. The Food Hub will provide shared spaces for communal activities, events, and community gatherings, and will support local food businesses and engage community members in the local food system.
Get Involved
The Food Hub CLLC invites community members to join the planning process and provide feedback on the concept of a Food Hub. Healthy Archuleta will be hosting information tables around town and reaching out to the community to gather feedback. To learn more about this project, please visit our website at bit.ly/44ItTfW and to provide your feedback on the design features of the food hub, complete our survey at bit.ly/40q1Vmy.
To provide your feedback, please join us at one of the following locations:
- Archuleta County Farmers Market
- Archuleta County Health Department
- Archuleta County Library
We would really appreciate hearing from you! Your input will help shape the Food Hub project and ensure that it meets the needs of the community. Thank you for your support!
“The Food Hub is a dream come true for our community. It will provide a space for us to come together, learn from each other, and support each other in our pursuit of healthy and sustainable food.” – Archuleta County resident
The Food Hub project is an exciting opportunity for Archuleta County to create a vibrant and thriving local food system. By supporting local food businesses and engaging community members in the local food system, we can build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient community. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
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