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

"The Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace will serve as a cultural epicenter and usher in the next wave of revitalization.""

Rebecca Salmon

Mayor, City of Sanford

Partners & Goals

Partner: NCCE-Lee County Center

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. Sign up to receive more information about the commercial kitchen.
The teaching kitchen (not available for reservation).

Contact Lee County Extension Local Food Agent Meredith Favre at 919-775-5624 for more information about upcoming programming at the Ag Marketplace.

Partner: Sanford Farmers' Market

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.

Note: The City of Sanford does not operate or manage the Sanford Farmers' Market.

The market is run by a board of directors and managed by Lee County Extension Local Food Agent Meredith Favre. The market has contracted with the City of Sanford for exclusive use of the Ag Marketplace pavilion.

Goals

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.

Visit the Sanford Farmers' Market website!

Funding & Timeline

Grant Summary

American Rescue Plan Act: $2.8 million
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