Someone picks up a spaghetti squash from the produce wall to put it in their cart. They are looking at the camera smiling.

Food Access

Too often when people go hungry, they are expected to take whatever is left over, expired, or cheap. These unhealthy, overly processed foods lead to diet-related diseases and lower school performance, many times forcing people right back to a food pantry. We meet people’s immediate food needs healthily and equitably—all while investing back in a local economy that makes fresh, healthy, Colorado-grown food more accessible and affordable to everyone. 

Our Work

A shopper chooses groceries off the dry good shelf in the Fresh Foods Market.

Fresh Foods Market

Our Fresh Foods Market is a free grocery store that welcomes thousands of community members each week to choose from nutritious, culturally rooted, and locally sourced foods. We stock our shelves with fresh produce, meats, dairy products, and pantry staples that meet a variety of diets. 

Visit the Market
Andy Breiter, the rancher at Grama Grass & Livestock, tends to multiple brown cows in a field of grass with trees in the background.

Local Food Procurement

While most of our food is donated, we buy items in high demand—like meat, eggs, and dairy. We prioritize buying food grown by Coloradans from historically marginalized communities, whose labor has been taken advantage of throughout time. By building relationships with farmers who share our values, we can stock better items for our community and reduce the miles food needs to travel.

One purple colored okra sits in a pile of green colored okra that fills the rest of the photo frame.

Culturally Relevant Foods

We all have foods that are important to our cultures and diets. With an incredibly diverse community from all corners of the world, we listen to our shoppers’ feedback to stock foods that they love and that meet a variety of diets.

Zucchinis and bell peppers in a wicker basket sits on a ledge of a garden bed.

Resource Share

We share food items from our warehouse with nine organizations who distribute food to communities. Our goal is to share food with communities that we generally can’t reach and to support organizations who share our values and vision for ending hunger. We’re proud to partner with: Commún via the Southwest Food Coalition, Denver Community Fridges, Denver Food Rescue, Downtown Denver Islamic Center, The Fax Partnership, The Gathering Place, Loyola Food Pantry, Mutual Aid Monday, and the Transgender Center of the Rockies.  

Outside, person holds two watermelons smiling as a kid in the background reaches into a huge cardboard box.

Food Drives & Donations

The vast majority of our food comes from grocery store rescues and donations from individuals and producers. Get your community involved by donating fresh, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods to our Fresh Foods Market so that everyone has healthy food to eat.

Donate Food

Community Stories

Good for the land, ecosystem & community

Rachael Woods of Woods Family Ranch is one of several local food producers that provides food to our Fresh Foods Market. She prioritizes holistic grazing to reduce carbon footprint and improve access to healthy, local food.

 

 

 

"It's a Right to Have Good Food."

Elaine was introduced to Metro Caring through the Fresh Foods Market. Now as a volunteer, she makes our community feel welcome. 

 

 

 

Contact the Team

Emily Settlecowski
she/her/hers
Food Access Manager
Email

Ask me about food procurement partnerships!

Emily Settlecowski's headshot.