Market on the Hill opens
Cooperative Grocery Opens in Mount Pulaski on Monday, June 22nd

[June 20, 2020]  

When the Market on the Hill opens in Mount Pulaski on Monday, June 22, the community will take a huge leap forward in ensuring that southern Logan County residents can eat fresh food from local farms. The grocery will also alleviate residents’ concerns about obtaining a safe food supply during the pandemic and beyond.

A cooperative, Market on the Hill is owned by 126 community members who invested $120,000 to create the new business. They took action after the town’s sole grocery closed three years ago. Tom Martin, a crop farmer near Mount Pulaski, helped spark the community response as chair of the Mount Pulaski Economic Development and Planning Board. He said the board approached three large chains, asking each to open a store in Mount Pulaski. None thought the town of 1,500 was large enough to warrant their attention. But the group decided that the town needed a gathering place if it were to remain a viable community, so they convened a public meeting a year ago to solicit interest. In less than 3 months, they raised all of the money needed.

“My hope is that this is the tip of the iceberg” that will spark broader efforts to source food from local farms and processors, Martin said. “I would love to see 15% of the food we eat come from local farms. I would like to see 10-15 new young producers open new farm businesses.” Indeed, if 15% of the food Logan County residents eat at home were sourced locally, that would generate $7 million of new income in the County.

Logan County economic development director Bill Thomas added, “Pumping a potential $7 million dollars into our local food producers’ operations could be a game-changer for our County.”

As an incentive for Market on the Hill shoppers to purchase food from local farms, the economic development group is using income generated from a nearby wind farm to offer locally grown produce at a 20% discount through September.

Martin said this responds to residents’ concerns that began brewing long before the pandemic, but the outbreak “helped fuel the fire.” For a long time, he added, “I’ve heard my neighbors say that they need to get away from eating processed foods, and they want to know where their food is coming from.” Now it will be easier for Mount Pulaski shoppers to purchase from farmers they know.

Martin felt so strongly about the potential for expanding local food production that he devoted 9 acres of his land to help Kyle Reed launch Hilltop Community Gardens. Reed’s farm, and others, will provide produce to the new store.

Shaun and Kim Tyson of Tyson’s Farms in Chestnut, a livestock farm, will join Hilltop in supplying ingredients for local caterers, Mike Richner Catering and John Wyss of Primo Grills, to use in offering free, light refreshments for the store’s Opening Celebration at 6 pm Friday, June 26. The public is warmly invited. Outdoor seating will be available and state guidelines for social distancing will be observed during the grand opening celebration, the market’s management said. Market on the Hill is located at the corner of South Lafayette Street on the town square.

The mission of the Logan County Economic Development Partnership is to cultivate a business environment that enhances Logan County by expanding our local and regional economy through programs that sustain and grow existing businesses, attract and establish new businesses, and increase quality employment opportunities.

[Bill Thomas, Executive Director
Logan County Economic Development Partnership]