If you've ever loaded up on greens at the Jackson Hole Farmers Market in August and then gone back to grocery store produce by November, this one's for you. A year-round, nonprofit local food store called The Farm is set to open this fall at 211 E. Broadway Ave., on the corner of Broadway and Bruun Boulevard.
What The Farm Is
The Farm is a storefront and hub for regional food producers. It will carry produce, meat, cheese, fermented foods, baked goods, and more. Everything comes from farms and makers across six Wyoming counties and two in Idaho, which likely includes some of our neighbors over the pass in Teton Valley.
It will be open every day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Construction is underway now, and the opening is expected within the next month or two.
The Person Behind It
The Farm is the work of Shelby Belote, a longtime local-food advocate and Jackson Hole Farmers Market board member. She has spent about ten years working alongside area growers. That includes helping Haderlie Farms in Thayne build a greenhouse that brought winter produce to the market.
The idea came straight from farmers. They told her that having nowhere to sell through the winter was one of the biggest obstacles to running a viable operation here. Belote has said her role was mostly to listen.
Why the Location Matters
Finding the right building took four or five years. Some producers drive around eight hours round trip to reach Jackson, so the space had to hold serious cold storage. That lets farmers drop off enough product to make the trip worthwhile.
Anyone who has shopped for commercial space in Jackson knows how hard that combination is to find downtown. It's a real win for the project that it landed on Broadway.
What to Expect as a Shopper
Prices will be a bit higher than at the grocery store. Philanthropy will help offset some of the difference. The bigger point is that farmers keep 90% of every sale, so your money goes directly to the people working the land.
Some items will come and go with the seasons. You won't find every product every month. Belote frames that as part of the point, since that's how food is actually grown in this region.
There will be a classroom as well. Farmers asked for a place to teach, and the building will host farmer-led workshops on how food is grown.
It's Already Funded
Belote has raised $1 million. That covers the equipment needed to open plus three years of operating runway. Funding includes grants from the Teton Conservation District and the Wyoming Department of Family Services, and fundraising will continue.
Why This Matters for Our Community
When people ask me what it's really like to live in Jackson Hole, the answer is rarely about square footage. It's about things like this: a place downtown where you can buy eggs from a Star Valley farm in January, and where a rancher driving in from hours away has a reason to keep making the trip.
Projects like The Farm keep working lands working. They also make our valley a better place to live year-round, not just in summer.
Quick FAQ
Where is The Farm in Jackson?
211 E. Broadway Ave., at Broadway and Bruun Boulevard.
When does The Farm open?
It's expected this fall, within the next month or two.
What are the hours?
Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What does it sell?
Local produce, meat, cheese, fermented foods, baked goods, and more from six Wyoming counties and two Idaho counties.
How much do farmers receive?
90% of the proceeds from each sale.
Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
