Neighborhood Roots (MN)

What Neighborhood Roots (MN) does

Neighborhood Roots is a 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that operates a portfolio of neighborhood farmers markets and food access programs across South Minneapolis. Its core operations consist of three seasonal outdoor markets — Southwest (Saturdays, May–October at Mount Olivet Church), Kingfield (Sundays, May–October at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park), and Nokomis (Wednesdays, June–September) — supplemented by monthly Winter Markets hosted indoors at Bachman's greenhouse. The markets support 120+ local farmers, food makers, and artisans, generating over $2 million in annual financial transactions while operating on an annual organizational budget of approximately $115,000 (2023).

The organization's technology stack is intentionally lean and built on off-the-shelf SaaS: Manage My Market for vendor applications, Square for gift card and token processing, Zeffy for donations, and Google Workspace for forms and operational documents. It runs a layered food access program including SNAP-EBT acceptance with Market Bucks matching (via Hunger Solutions), the Nourishing Neighbors produce donation program (via Twin Cities Food Justice, which redirected 5,800+ pounds of produce to food banks), the Power of Produce children's education program, and the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors donation initiative.

Neighborhood Roots monetizes through five streams: vendor stall fees (~55% of operating expenses), business sponsorships (sustaining sponsor model), individual donations (record $10,500 in 2022), grants, and a Sustaining Market Membership ($120/year or $10/month). The organization is governed by a volunteer board and operates with one full-time Market Manager (Erica Lanning), a part-time Development and Finance Manager (Mara Wack), and seasonal support staff. It has no parent company, no outside equity, and serves community shoppers, SNAP/EBT recipients, and local small producers as its primary segments.

Name

Neighborhood Roots (MN)

Legal name

Neighborhood Roots

Website

https://neighborhoodrootsmn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Neighborhood Roots is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit that operates three seasonal farmers markets (Southwest, Kingfield, Nokomis) and Winter Markets in South Minneapolis, supporting 120+ local farmers and artisans while running SNAP-EBT matching and produce donation food access programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Markets

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Farmers markets
• Food access programs
• Community supported agriculture
• Local food distribution
• SNAP EBT matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor Stall Fees: Fees paid by vendors to participate in markets. These fees cover approximately 55% of operating expenses. The organization keeps fees low to support small farmers and incubate new businesses.
2. Business Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from local businesses that support the markets. Sponsorship levels range from one-day market sponsorships to full-season or multi-market sponsorships. Past sponsors include ACE Hardware, Ace Handyman Services, 36 Lyn, and Impact Orthotics.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from community members and market patrons, including one-time and recurring monthly contributions through the Zeffy platform. Record donations of over $10,500 received in 2022.
4. Grants: Grant funding from foundations and organizations to support market operations, food access programs, and strategic initiatives. The organization pursues grant applications regularly.
5. Sustaining Market Membership: $120/year or $10/month membership program offering perks including tote bag, member button, $2 convenience fee waived on token transactions, 15% off merchandise, and exclusive event invitations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Neighborhood Roots operates four seasonal farmers markets in South Minneapolis—Southwest (Saturdays), Kingfield (Sundays), Nokomis (Wednesdays), and monthly Winter Markets at Bachman's—and runs food access programs including SNAP-EBT matching (Market Bucks), Nourishing Neighbors produce donations, and Power of Produce youth programming. The organization provides physical marketplace infrastructure that connects 120+ local farmers, food makers, and artisans directly with community shoppers, generating over $2 million in annual market transactions on an approximately $115,000 operating budget.

Product overview

Neighborhood Roots is a nonprofit organization operating four seasonal farmers markets in South Minneapolis: Southwest (Saturdays), Kingfield (Sundays), Nokomis (Wednesdays), and Winter Markets at Bachman's. The organization offers a portfolio of food access programs including SNAP-EBT with Market Bucks matching, Nourishing Neighbors produce redistribution, and Neighbors Feeding Neighbors donations. Supporting programs include Power of Produce Club for children's food education, a sustaining membership program, weekly email newsletters, and market gift cards. The markets generate over $2 million in annual financial transactions while operating on an annual budget of approximately $115,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Southwest Farmers Market A Saturday farmers market operating May through October in Southwest Minneapolis at the Mount Olivet Church parking lot (5025 Knox Ave S), featuring local produce, meats, fish, eggs, artisan cheeses, baked goods, flowers, handmade crafts, and ready-to-eat food with live music for South Minneapolis residents and visitors.
• Kingfield Farmers Market A Sunday farmers market operating May through October at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (4055 Nicollet Ave) in South Minneapolis, featuring local produce, artisan goods, prepared foods, and community programming including the Power of Produce Club. One of the longest-running neighborhood markets, operating for over 25 years.
• Nokomis Farmers Market A Wednesday evening farmers market operating June through September at 5167 Chicago Ave in South Minneapolis, offering fresh local produce, prepared foods, and community activities for Southeast Minneapolis residents.
• Winter Markets Indoor farmers markets held monthly at Bachman's on Lyndale (6010 Lyndale Ave) during winter months, featuring vendors from all three summer markets and offering winter produce, meats, cheese, eggs, prepared foods, and handmade crafts.
• SNAP-EBT and Market Bucks Program A food access initiative that accepts SNAP-EBT benefits and matches the first $10 spent with an additional $20 in Market Bucks, strengthening the purchasing power of low-income shoppers using EBT at all Neighborhood Roots markets.
• Nourishing Neighbors

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2 million in annual financial transactions generated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Twin Cities Food JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to distribute excess produce from markets to local food banks. With Twin Cities Food Justice's help, vendors donated over 5,800 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks. The Nourishing Neighbors program compensates local farmers for unsold produce, redirecting it to food shelves.
• Hunger SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNAP incentive partnership that triples SNAP-EBT dollars. The program matches customers' first $10 SNAP with an additional $20 in Market Bucks to spend at the market. In 2022, approximately $6,000 in SNAP sales generated $9,000 in matched Market Bucks.
• ACE Hardware (Nicollet ACE)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor supporting all markets. Nicollet ACE Hardware sponsored the 2021-2022 Winter Market season.
• Ace Handyman ServicesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor supporting all markets.
• 36 LynmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor supporting all markets.
• Impact OrthoticsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustaining sponsor supporting all markets.
• Bachman's on LyndalemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts the Winter Markets in their greenhouse facility at 6010 Lyndale Ave. Provides indoor market space during the off-season.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides location for Kingfield Farmers Market at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
• Inner City TennisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides storage space for market supplies at the Kingfield market location.
• Lake Harriet United Methodist ChurchmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Fulton Farmers Market (formerly) and Winter Markets in their parking lot at 4901 Chowen Ave S.
• Mount Olivet ChurchmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts Southwest Farmers Market in their parking lot at 5025 Knox Ave S, adjacent to parks and biking trails.
• Hale Page Diamond Lake Neighborhood AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner that helped support fundraising efforts to bring back the Nokomis Farmers Market after its 2022 hiatus.
• Fulton Neighborhood AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting the Fulton Farmers Market location.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/neighborhoodrootsmn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/79542226

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Neighborhood Roots (MN)