Kickstarter

Two young entrepreneurs residing in Gainesville, Fl aimed to retrofit a neglected building space on small town Main Street into a thriving local food marketplace, revitalizing community through both visual and edible art. Utilizing sustainably-produced and salvaged materials - we designed a fresh, clean, and modern appeal for an otherwise low-income sector of town. 

Three years into the project, and Citizens Co-op currently has over 700 members & co-owners. All of our funds to date have been raised locally through small investments and membership shares - over $200,000 from within our community.

At our deepest roots, we are cultivating community through the establishment of a storefront that will bring people closer to their food and to each other. We are collectively owned by the people who provide the food, the people who work here, and the people who will shop here. 

The project will offer healthy farm fresh foods, grown locally, and at affordable prices, to an underserved neighborhood while also beautifying our downtown main street and supporting young area farmers. We are planting fruit trees and edibles along green spaces and parking lots throughout our neighborhood, connecting the new marketplace to a prosperous community garden three blocks away - encouraging food, art, and culture amidst previously avoided alleyways.

Our mission is to improve and expand the local food system by supporting local farmers and increasing the availability of local products; educating consumers and providing them with wholesome food; and providing jobs that contribute to a deeper, local economy. After 3 years, we're scheduled to open in weeks, and we need this final push to open our doors and kickstart the Co-op.

Wall mural in Co-op Market, just completed!

Interior design rendering of the Co-op Market:

building the community garden:

Swallowtail Farm Tote Bag:      

"March to a Different Beet" T-shirt Logo:

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