Tri Corner F.E.E.D., a nonprofit dedicated to connecting local farms with community tables, has announced plans to transition from a seasonal pop-up market to a year-round operation in downtown Millerton. The organization is under contract to purchase a building at 56 South Center Street, which will provide a permanent home for its mission to enhance access to fresh, locally sourced food for the community.
Linda Quella, co-founder of Tri Corner F.E.E.D., shared the news during the Black Barn holiday market at SkyRise Farm, a 50-acre regenerative farm and sanctuary. The nonprofit was the beneficiary of the two-day event. “This time of year can be really challenging for many families and individuals,” said Sarah Rigano, the farm’s owner and a designer specializing in creating spaces for transformation and higher consciousness. “Last year, we partnered with the North East Community Center, and this year, Tri Corner F.E.E.D. felt like a natural fit. Each year, we aim to collaborate with a different local organization addressing food insecurity.” As the organization grows, the purchase of a permanent space marks a significant step forward.
Credit: Elyse Harney Real Estate
Quella said the strong community need for reliable food sources was evident at Tri Corner F.E.E.D.’s pop-up market: “At the end of the season, people told us, ‘We literally couldn’t have sourced our food without you.’”
Tri Corner F.E.E.D. is poised to become the second new grocery store in Millerton. Kim and Chris Choe, owners of the Sharon Farm Market, purchased the Millerton Square Shopping Center in November and plan to open a grocery store in the 29,000-square-foot space. But Quella doesn’t see the Choes as competition. “There’s a huge need in this community for grocery stores,” she said. “Our focus is on local sourcing and fostering connections between farmers and residents.”
Much like its pop-up market, Tri Corner F.E.E.D.’s permanent site will operate on a sliding-scale pay model, designed to make locally produced meats, dairy and produce affordable for all income levels. Quella also envisions it as a gathering place for the community. “We want this to be more than just a grocery store,” she said. “It’s about creating a space where people feel connected.”
The 3,000-square-foot, single-story building, which Tri Corner plans to share with an existing nail salon, is owned by Phillips Hathaway and is under contract to close within weeks, according to Arleen Shepley, a listing agent with Elyse Harney Real Estate. Planned upgrades include improvements to the septic system to support a commercial kitchen and prepared food sales.
Quella expressed confidence in a soft opening by Memorial Day. “This winter, we’re reaching out to farmers to collaborate with us and sell through the market,” she said. The store will function as a five-day-a-week farmers market, providing cold storage, staffing and year-round sales opportunities. “Farmers’ markets are great, but they’re often limited by time and weather,” Quella added. “We’re creating infrastructure that allows farmers to succeed.”
Tri Corner F.E.E.D. has applied for a New York state food expansion grant to help fund the purchase of the building. Quella described the decision to purchase the property as fortuitous. “We were running the pop-up across the street and kept looking at this place, thinking, ‘Wouldn’t that be perfect?’ Then it went on the market the next week.”
