Our mission is to engage our neighbors around locally grown, fresh foods to support local farmers, educate on healthy eating, and address food insecurity in our Charlotte community.

In recent years, important studies in Mecklenburg County have prompted a renewed focus on food insecurity, wellness, and nutrition in our community. These include:

- Unlocking the Potential of Charlotte’s Food System and Farmers’ Markets (2018)
Need for a more centrally located larger-scale market; SNAP approved

- Leading on Opportunity (2017)
Opportunities to build social capital and community connections need to improve; children’s brain development needs are greatest 0-5 years, which would include nutrition

- State of the Plate Report (2015)
35% of our neighbors are food insecure; only 11% of us eat enough fruits and vegetables

In an effort to help address these community concerns, the Uptown Farmers Market was established in Spring, 2020 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our location at 300 S. Davidson Street, right in the heart of the center city, provides an ideal location for the more than 110,000 residents that live within a 3-mile radius of the market’s site, as well as ample free parking for those that visit from around the expanding Charlotte area.

Key stakeholders include the City of Charlotte, corporations, healthcare organizations, churches, community partners, and local food access organizations. Our aim is to support the important mandate to eat locally and sustainably while improving our overall health as a community. The Uptown Farmers Market wants to partner with all the important work being done to counter the negative health statistics and help us all to live well. The Market’s vision is to create a strong and diverse uptown community that knows one another and improves access to healthy food, while ensuring the sustainability of locally produced food for the region. The dreams for this market advance with your partnership and support.