Grow Local South Texas

What Grow Local South Texas does

Grow Local South Texas is a Texas-based 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2013 that operates as the anchor organization of the Coastal Bend region's local food movement, headquartered in Corpus Christi. Its core offering is the Grow Local Farmers' Market, a weekly Wednesday market held at the Art Center of Corpus Christi that connects 30+ local farmers, ranchers, and cottage food producers with community members. It is the only farmers' market in the Coastal Bend that accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, and partners with the Sustainable Food Center to administer a Double Up Food Bucks program matching SNAP dollars up to $30, processing $15,000+ in SNAP benefits during 2024-2025. The market holds Certified GO TEXAN Farmers' Market status from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Beyond the market, Grow Local South Texas delivers an educational portfolio including in-school and after-school youth food and gardening programs reaching 400+ youth and young adults annually, an annual Producers Conference for farmer business development, garden management resources, a Cook Local Video Series on YouTube, printable recipe cards, and farmer profile content. The organization is funded through individual/family/lifetime/business/nonprofit membership tiers, sponsorships (Splash Sponsors include Frost Bank, Gill Garden Center, and the Law Office of Todd A. Hunter), an annual Farm to Table: Field to Shore Brunch fundraiser co-presented with Coastal Bend Chefs and Texas Chefs Association, donations, and event-based fundraising such as the Sunset to Stars Illuminated Market. Operations are supported by a five-to-six-person staff (Executive Director, Market Manager, Operations Manager/SNAP Coordinator, three Educators, plus a hiring Education Coordinator) and an unpaid nine-member Board of Directors.

Name

Grow Local South Texas

Legal name

Grow Local South Texas

Website

https://growlocalsouthtexas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grow Local South Texas is a Corpus Christi-based nonprofit operating the Coastal Bend's only SNAP/EBT-accepting farmers' market, delivering food access, youth and farmer education, and community programming to 3,500+ residents annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers' Market Operations

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Farmers market management
• Community food access
• Agricultural education
• Local food systems
• Nutrition assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Corpus Christi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Individual, family, lifetime, business, and nonprofit membership tiers providing benefits and supporting operations
2. Event fundraising: Annual Farm to Table Field to Shore Brunch & Fundraiser as primary fundraiser, plus Sunset to Stars Illuminated Market
3. SNAP/EBT processing: Processing SNAP benefits at farmers' market; processes $15,000+ in SNAP benefits annually
4. Sponsorships and donations: Corporate sponsors providing support beyond membership, including splash sponsors for events

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grow Local South Texas operates the weekly Grow Local Farmers' Market at the Art Center of Corpus Christi, connecting 30+ local farmers, food producers, and artisans with community members. It is the only SNAP/EBT-accepting farmers' market in the Coastal Bend, with a Double Up Food Bucks program matching SNAP dollars up to $30. The organization complements the market with youth education programs, garden management assistance, an annual Producers Conference, and signature fundraising events.

Product overview

Grow Local South Texas is a nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of community programs centered around improving local food access in the Coastal Bend region. The core offering is the Grow Local Farmers' Market, which operates weekly and serves as the anchor of the local food movement. Supporting the market are educational programs including youth education (in-school and after-school), the Cook Local Video Series, and gardening assistance resources. Food access is enhanced through SNAP/EBT acceptance and the Veggie Voucher program. The organization also hosts signature events including the annual Field to Shore Brunch fundraiser and the Sunset to Stars Illuminated Market. Members can access the community through various membership tiers (individual, family, business, nonprofit). The portfolio is distributed through the organization's website, weekly market operations, and YouTube channel for video content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grow Local Farmers' Market Weekly farmers' market operating every Wednesday from 5–8 PM at the Art Center of Corpus Christi (100 N Shoreline Blvd), connecting 30+ local farmers, food producers, and artisans with 3,500+ community members annually. The only farmers' market in the Coastal Bend that accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, with a Double Up Food Bucks program matching SNAP dollars up to $30.
• Youth Education Programs In-school and after-school educational programs teaching youth about gardening, nutrition, and local food systems, reaching 400+ youth and young adults annually. Delivered via partnerships with local schools and youth organizations in the Coastal Bend region.
• Garden Management Services Assistance and resources for community and school gardens, including instructional videos on gardening tailored to the Texas Coastal Bend region. Provides technical and educational support to organizations operating community gardens.
• Producers Conference Annual conference supporting farmers and food producers with agriculture and business development education. Targets small farms, ranches, and cottage food producers in South Texas who participate in the farmers' market.
• Membership Program Membership program with individual, family, lifetime, business, and nonprofit tiers offering benefits and supporting the organization's mission to grow a healthy local food community. Membership sign-up is facilitated through BetterUnite.
• Field to Shore Brunch & Fundraiser Annual farm-to-table brunch and fundraiser, the Coastal Bend's premier dining experience celebrating local farmers, fishermen, chefs, and food artisans, featuring a 100% locally sourced menu. Co-presented with Coastal Bend Chefs and the Texas Chefs Association. The 14th Annual edition was held in 2026.
• Sunset to Stars Illuminated Market Special evening market event at the Art Center of Corpus Christi featuring live music, vendors, food trucks, and family activities. Free admission and parking; includes a $5 veggie voucher for the first 100 children ages 3–17 and free tapas samples from Chef Faye in the evening.
• SNAP/EBT and Double Up Food Bucks Program Food access initiative accepting SNAP/EBT benefits at the farmers' market, with the Double Up Food Bucks program matching SNAP dollars up to $30 (operated in partnership with Sustainable Food Center). The program processed $15,000+ in SNAP benefits in 2024–2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ community members served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coastal Bend ChefscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenters of the annual Field to Shore Brunch & Fundraiser, providing culinary expertise and chef participation for the farm-to-table dining experience
• Texas Chefs AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for annual Field to Shore Brunch, bringing together regional chefs for the premier farm-to-table event
• Sustainable Food CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Double Up Food Bucks program that matches SNAP/EBT dollars up to $30 at the farmers' market
• NEC Co-op EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Cook Local Video Series, powering local cooking content featuring fresh ingredients from the farmers' market
• Texas Department of Agriculture / GO TEXAN ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying body for GO TEXAN Farmers' Market designation; provides marketing support and recognition for local food products
• Coastal Bend Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as part of the local food system, connecting community members to additional food resources

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Farmers Market Coalition: National nonprofit supporting farmers' markets through training, advocacy, and SNAP programs. Comparable as a peer in the farmers' market ecosystem with overlapping technical and policy interests.
• Feeding Texas: State association of Texas food banks with aligned food-access mission. Comparable as a peer in the Texas hunger-relief ecosystem that competes for some of the same philanthropic dollars.
• Texas Department of Agriculture (GO TEXAN Program): Texas state program certifying and promoting Texas-grown products, including the GO TEXAN Farmers' Market designation held by Grow Local. Ecosystem partner enabling market credibility and consumer trust.
• Double Up Food Bucks: National nutrition-incentive program that matches SNAP dollars at farmers' markets. Grow Local participates as a partner site, making the program a directly comparable ecosystem enabler.

Direct peers

• Local Food Hub: Charlottesville, Virginia-based nonprofit strengthening local food systems through farmer support, food access, and education. Comparable as a regional food-system intermediary supporting small farmers and community access.
• FRESHFARM: Washington D.C. area nonprofit running producer-only farmers' markets and SNAP/ nutrition incentive programs. Highly comparable mission, SNAP/EBT acceptance model, and food-access focus.
• GrowNYC: Operates Greenmarkets and extensive food-education programs across New York City. Comparable as a long-running nonprofit farmers' market operator that combines weekly markets, youth education, and farmer development.
• Sustainable Food Center: Austin-based nonprofit operating farmers' markets, farm-to-school education, and Double Up Food Bucks programming in Texas. Directly comparable operating model (market + education + SNAP incentives) and an existing partner of Grow Local.
• Community Farmers Markets: Atlanta-based nonprofit operating multiple weekly farmers' markets with food-access programming. Comparable as a regional farmers' market operator combining SNAP acceptance, education, and community programming.

Regional players

• Coastal Bend Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the same Coastal Bend geography as Grow Local. Comparable mission of food access in the same territory and an existing community partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWawOk7pwoGZQYZhXmPBoMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrowLocalSouthTexas
• Xx.com/ccdowntownfm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grow-local-south-texas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grow Local South Texas