Strengthening our community through .

Nurturing a healthy community and viable agricultural economy through multi-faceted local food networks.

Advocacy

We believe our farmers, land and food ecosystems are worth protecting.

Inclusivity

We value diversity and food equity for all.

Nurture

We care for the community and landscape.

Connection

Friendships, families, volunteers and customers are the core of our community.

Health

We believe quality food is a right not a privilege, that a viable food economy is synchronous with the health of a community.

Influential

We aim to build models that work to inspire and empower.

Dedication

Our passion, mutual respect and appreciation for hard work moves us forward.

Generosity

We value mutual aid and volunteerism.

What the FRESH Foundation does

Click here to learn about our wholesale program!

In 2023, the Mountain Village Market On The Plaza will take place each Wednesday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. starting June 14th and running through Xxxxx.

The Norwood Market will run weekly on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. next to the High County Bicycles, starting June 15th until it freezes.

Stay tuned for our 2023 CSA signup, typically beginning June 15th through October 1st.

History of the FRESH Food Hub

From the day of its inception, the Hub was never just a grocery store. The board members saw a need to make quality food more accessible and tangible for community members along with financially supporting those growing food.

This relationship is, in essence, community at its best; resources being shared, people supporting one another, and all parties having greater health as a result. The Hub started off with a volunteer manager and a small board and grew to a team of 25 people including volunteer members, three paid staff, two drivers and a seven-person board consisting of all local women.

2015

A small group of local residents founded The FRESH Food Hub (“The Hub”) with a mission of supporting local farmers and addressing food equity barriers. The Hub was founded as a cooperative grocery store with a fiscal sponsor through local nonprofit SWIRL (Southwest Institute for Resilience).

2015

2016

“The Hub” opened its retail doors on main in Norwood, Colorado.

2016

2020

In November 2020, “The Hub” was awarded its own 501(c)(3) status and FRESH Foundation was formed.

2020

2021

“The Hub’s” retail doors closed to allow the FRESH Foundation to further develop its non profit activities, while focusing on growing future retail partnership opportunities.

2021
Partnerships
Wholesale Program

Fresh Foundation has collaborated with various organizations in the region. The Telluride Foundation has been instrumental in supporting our work. Other partners include Southwest Institute of Resilience, Lone Cone Legacy Trust, The Lone Cone Library, Prime Time preschool, The Norwood Farmers Market, CSU Extension Office, Uncompahgre Medical Clinic, Norwood Food Bank, West End Family Link, Tri-County Health Network, The Basin Clinic, the Town of Norwood, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce, The Apple Core Project, Wide Sky Arts Collective, Norwood Park and Rec, the Norwood Community Garden, and WEEDC.

The Fresh Foundation is always looking for opportunities to collaborate and network to support our mission.

Fresh Foundation launched its wholesale program  in September 2021. The program was originally made possible by an EDA grant supporting local food commerce. The program is designed to ensure that food pantries, small businesses,  and institutions had easy, affordable access to local food. This program has sold over $69k of local food since its inception.

The current focus of the wholesale program is primarily serving small scale restaurants, retail shops, food pantries,  schools, and additional food security programs. Those buyers have the least access to local food due to limitations on cost, time, transportation and purchasing power. Given these limitations, Fresh Foundation has worked hard to develop a program specific to thier needs.

Interested in opening a wholesale account through Fresh Foundation? Email norwoodcollective@gmail.com 

Future of the FRESH Foundation

Fresh Foundation will continue to operate as a 501-c3. We are always looking for opportunities to collaborate and support the betterment of the regional food system.

The Fresh Foundation will continue to run a wholesale program for local food access including offering subsidies to our local food banks and other non-profit organizations. 

We will offer on-going support for the annual Mountain Village Farm to Community program,  MV Market on the Plaza and community CSA shares. Local farmer Sam Andrews, of Birdhouse Farm runs all of these programs though our foundation.

As a 501(c)3, we gladly accept donations, which go directly to our programs. In the years to come we are:

Meet The Board!