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Market Central advocates for local food, farmers markets, and strong connections between the producers and the community. We rent the space from the Ix Art Park and manage the Farmers Markets at IX, so that the community has access to local food, and producers develop sustainable businesses, doing the work they love year round. Through sharing international flavors, traditional foods and culture, customers and vendors forge bonds of goodwill and friendship.
Funding is needed to sustain good management, marketing, and expenses. We research and take trainings about farmers markets and food systems to bring best practices to the local level and equitably extend opportunities to entrepreneurs. Current programs are to improve trash management, develop a weekday market, conduct better impact measurements, and seek out marginalized groups for inclusion and leadership. The SNAP and VA Fresh Match program gives families with low resources access to high-quality food, supports health, and increases sales to farms and producers.
Our current income is partially derived from the vendors who rent spaces, and the rest comes from donations and grants. Your donation will help support Market Central's work without affecting food prices. A tax-deductible donation to Market Central is an investment in your community market. The “Grow the Good” poster shows the benefits strong farmers markets bring to the community. The Farmers Market at IX is Charlottesville’s first market in 50 years that is not controlled by city government, but rather by the community of vendors, customers, and non-profit boards. We invite you to participate in planning the future of access to local food, arts, and entrepreneurs in our community.
We greatly appreciate any support for our programs and mission, and we look forward to sharing this important work with you!
Keep Going Together (KGT) is a grassroots organization working to ease suffering in the Charlottesville community through mutual aid. When food access is threatened, we believe it’s not enough to offer one-time charity—we must show up for one another consistently. Community means interdependence.
KGT partners with Market Central at the Farmers Market at Ix to help address gaps in food access through a community-supported incentive fund. This fund provides participating families with additional support to purchase fresh, locally produced foods at the market.
Originally launched during the 2025 holiday season in response to disruptions in benefits, the program began by offering staple items like locally baked bread and fresh eggs. Thanks to strong community support, the program has continued to grow and evolve.
The KGT incentive fund helps participating families access a wider range of locally grown and produced foods—while ensuring farmers and producers are paid full price for their products.
A small donation can make a meaningful impact—supporting both our neighbors and the local food system. This is mutual aid in action: caring for people and sustaining our community at the same time.
Donations are made through Market Central, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and are tax-deductible.
