Facilities and technical assistance to support wholesale local produce aggregation, processing, packaging, storage and distribution
Processing, commercial kitchen space, and technical assistance for local food entrepreneurs
Connections for food access partners and institutional buyers to regional growers and food businesses
Market Center of the Ozarks catalyzes our local food system with new avenues for healthy food access, opportunities to advance our regional food economy, and the ability to attract and retain jobs in farming and food-based markets.
Is Market Center of the Ozarks open to the public?
Market Center of the Ozarks (MCO) is a nonprofit facility that supports local farmers and businesses scale their operations to bring more local food to local markets.
MCO is open to the public via our operational partners – Spring Creek Food Hub and the Arkansas Innovation Center at Market Center of the Ozarks (AFIC@MCO).
MCO is not a farmer’s market or retail store, but tenants of MCO do have products available for purchase. Spring Creek Food Hub, a local food aggregator and distributor, offers products available for wholesale purchase. AFIC@MCO supports food entrepreneur tenants bring their processed and prepared food to market.
Please follow AFIC@MCO and Spring Creek Food Hub on social media to learn more about upcoming special events open to the public, or contact us to schedule a group tour of the center. Drop-ins to the lobby are welcome via the front entrance during open hours Monday-Friday 9am – 4pm, but the majority of the building is available only to users. We strongly encourage calling ahead to ensure someone on the team is available to visit with you.
I am a farmer/food entrepreneur interested in using the resources at MCO. How do I get started?
It’s the mission of Market Center of the Ozarks to help local farmers and food entrepreneurs bring their products to market, and we can’t wait to help you make that happen.
Visit our contact page for more information on how you can reach us. Explore the space here.
Where can I find Market Center of the Ozarks?
We are located in the heart of Downtown Springdale, Arkansas, at 821 E Emma Avenue, Springdale, AR 72764.
How much does it cost to use MCO facilities?
Market Center of the Ozarks is proudly nonprofit. We want to make it as easy – and affordable – as possible for local farmers to get more product to market, and local food entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses.
While there are fees associated with using MCO’s space, our goal is to serve as a highly accessible community resource for the folks feeding Northwest Arkansas and beyond.
What kind of services will I find at Market Center of the Ozarks?
Whether you’re a farmer or local food entrepreneur, we’ve got what you need to keep growing.
From the loading dock to cold storage, we are a fully integrated food production facility that includes washing and prep stations, aggregation, processing, preservation, packaging and storage. Additionally, users will find support and services related to certification, education, technical assistance and access to new markets for products.
If you’re interested in selling fresh, locally grown products to Spring Creek Food Hub for wholesale markets, please visit them at their website.
If you’re interested in processing and preparation of food in our spaces, please visit AFIC@MCO’s website.
