REGROWING DISTRIBUTION

Regrowing Distribution creates a stronger community through the food system of North Minneapolis. Research and community feedback reveal that North Minneapolis is a food desert- access to healthy fresh food is difficult and expensive. Additionally, the community isn’t benefitting from the existing food infrastructure as most money spent on food goes into the pockets of external investors.
Building on the existing North Minneapolis community garden infrastructure the food distribution project supports a regenerated food cycle with a closed loop from production to distribution, to sales and use. Based on the study of 3 local precedents: The Good Acre, Seward Co-op, and Appetite for Change, the program has four parts. The warehouse stores and stabilizes the food flow; the office, handles project administration; the education area is where community members can learn about the food; and the retail area is the community-facing area of the project, where neighbors and others can acquire food, eat, and meet other community members.
The project is located on the present Cemstone Products Company site, ideal because of its accessibility, sitting on the Mississippi, at 26th Ave. and West River Road. Furthermore, this project would bring a green community asset to the river, replacing the current industrial use which contaminates air and ground. The landscape design draws the community in and through the site towards the retail and education areas, where people can meet through food and gather, creating a vibrant, collective community space.