Over the past year, the Archuleta Community Food Hub & Food Hall has moved steadily from an idea into a well-defined, community-informed plan. This progress reflects a deliberate choice to build the project openly and collaboratively, grounded in local knowledge and lived experience rather than assumptions or outside models.
Convened by Healthy Archuleta, the Food Hub is not a concept developed behind closed doors. Instead, it has been shaped through an inclusive, community-led planning process designed to ensure that local residents, food producers, businesses, and institutions have a meaningful role in guiding the project. Central to this work has been the Food Hub Community Learning & Leadership Circle (CLLC).
A Community Learning & Leadership Circle is a standing, community-based advisory group that brings residents, practitioners, and institutional partners together to guide programs or initiatives. Rather than relying on one-time input, the CLLC meets regularly to share lived experience, provide feedback, and help shape strategy, implementation, and evaluation. This model emphasizes mutual learning, builds local leadership capacity, and keeps community voice at the center of decision-making.
For the Food Hub project, the CLLC was intentionally formed as a cross-sector group to guide the project’s vision, design, and phased development. Participants and supporters of the CLLC brought a wide range of perspectives, including local governance and land-use planning, community and economic development, food business ownership and entrepreneurship, farming and ranching, public health and prevention, youth leadership, bilingual community engagement, and food access and distribution. Together, these voices contributed lived experience, technical knowledge, and practical insight that helped ensure the Food Hub plan reflects the realities of operating food systems, businesses, and services in Archuleta County.
Through this collaborative forum, participants contributed practical insight, market knowledge, and on-the-ground experience that directly informed the Food Hub’s priorities, infrastructure needs, and implementation strategy. Their input helped clarify what types of shared kitchen space, storage, market access, education, and operational support are most needed to strengthen Archuleta County’s local food system.
Beyond the CLLC, Healthy Archuleta engaged more than 300 community voices throughout 2025 through surveys, tabling at community events, interviews, and informal conversations. Participants included full-time and part-time residents, visitors, growers, ranchers, food producers, cottage food entrepreneurs, restaurant owners, and families. This broad engagement confirmed both strong demand for a Food Hub and shared priorities around local food access, entrepreneurship, workforce opportunity, and community resilience.
As a result of this extensive community input, the project team has completed a needs assessment, market analysis, and early financial modeling, and has worked with USDA design partners to develop a site concept grounded in real-world use. The Archuleta Community Food Hub & Food Hall is envisioned as a shared-use space where food can be grown, stored, processed, prepared, shared, and sold, supporting local businesses, improving access to healthy food, and keeping more food dollars circulating locally.
Importantly, the Food Hub is being planned in phases so it can grow responsibly over time and remain responsive to demonstrated community and market demand. This approach has been reinforced through the ongoing work of the CLLC, whose members continue to provide thoughtful guidance and accountability.
Healthy Archuleta extends sincere thanks to everyone who has participated in the Food Hub planning process, and especially to the Community Learning & Leadership Circle members who continue to show up month after month. Their leadership and commitment have strengthened the project and ensured that it reflects real community needs, real market conditions, and shared ownership.
Looking ahead to 2026, the project will continue refining its business plan, advancing site planning, and building the partnerships and funding strategies needed to move toward implementation. Community engagement will remain central as the project moves forward.
The Archuleta Community Food Hub & Food Hall is more than a building; it is the result of neighbors planning together and investing in a shared vision for the county’s food, health, and economic future.
For more information, please contact Healthy Archuleta at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com. Be sure to check out our website at https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/community-food-hub.html and follow us on social media for up-to-date information.
Health Literacy Panel
On January 27, Healthy Archuleta hosted a Health Literacy Panel dedicated to increasing access to primary preventative healthcare services The event brought together trusted local providers, Pagosa Springs Integrated Healthcare – Axis Health System, Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Archuleta County Public Health Department, and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies – Division of Insurance, who generously gave their time to answer questions and connect directly with community members.
The participants gathered in a way that honored culture, sharing food, conversation, and community. Coming together over a meal creates space for trust, openness, and meaningful dialogue, and this gathering reflected that beautifully.
Community members were eager to meet with providers and ask important questions about financial assistance, how to become a patient, available services, and support for language access during appointments. The engagement was strong, and participants appreciated having the opportunity to receive clear, direct answers in a welcoming environment. During the discussion on preventive care, providers shared valuable information about the services available in our community.
One community member shared that preventive care is especially important and expressed that many community members want more education about what a wellness check includes, why it matters, where to access these services, associated costs, and what steps to take next. This feedback reinforced the ongoing need for accessible health education and trusted guidance.
Both providers and community members expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and build stronger relationships. This gathering was a powerful example of how culturally respectful spaces can reduce barriers, build trust, and strengthen community health. Healthy Archuleta is deeply thankful to our providers and community members for making this event meaningful and impactful, and we look forward to continuing this important work together. To learn more about Healthy Archuleta’s efforts, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or email us at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.