Pilgrim's Sanford Agricultural Marketplace

The City of Sanford's "Pilgrim's Sanford Agricultural Marketplace" serves as a downtown anchor and community epicenter to address food insecurity and improve community infrastructure while celebrating Lee County's rich agricultural heritage.

📍157 Charlotte Avenue, Sanford, NC

Partnerships

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension-Lee County Center manages programming at the Ag Marketplace.

This includes:

The commercial kitchen that is slated to open Fall 2026. Complete this form to be added to the intake list.
The teaching kitchen (not available for reservation).

The Sanford Farmer's Market operates from the Ruby & Ernest McSwain Agricultural Pavilion at the Ag Marketplace. The market takes place on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting in April and ending in November.

View a map of parking for the Sanford Farmers' Market here.

Contact NCCE-LCC Local Food Agent Meredith Favre at 919-775-5624 for more information about programming at the facility.

Visit the Sanford Farmers' Market website!

Grants

Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust: $1 million
Rural Transformation Grant Fund: $900k
North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund: $214k for the facility's commercial kitchen and $398k for the pavilion
Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong: $505k
Lee County Farm Bureau: $50k

"The Ag Marketplace will celebrate Lee County’s rich agricultural heritage while promoting the vibrancy and diversity of downtown Sanford through food and community."

Bill Stone

Lee County Extension Center Director

Project Timeline

Design Development

September 2023 - January 2024

Bid Opening

August 2024

Groundbreaking Ceremony

November 2024

Goals for the Ag Marketplace:

Help growers and producers from the Sandhills region expand their consumer base and increase profitability.
Build relationships between community, farmers and food.
Connect consumers to fresh, local and wholesome food.
Address food insecurity and food accessibility issues for our most vulnerable downtown and East Sanford residents.
Create economic opportunities for food entrepreneurship and business innovators.
Provide space for nutrition education and community health and wellness initiatives.
Serve as an entry point for the future Sanford Central Green.