No-cost farmers market provides fresh produce and pantry staples
June 26, 2026 - A no-cost seasonal farmers market is popping up at Mountair Park Community Farm (MAP) this summer. Sprout City Farms has operated MAP at Mountair Park in Lakewood for over a decade, supplementing people’s diets with fresh and healthy produce, hosting community events, and partnering with local schools and businesses.
Andrea’s No-Cost Market opened on May 13 and will be open every other Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. through Sept. 16, providing basic ingredients such as fruits and leafy green vegetables, among others.
Andrea Loudd, who operates the market, said that she was inspired to open a free market for simple household staples during the 2020 Covid pandemic. Working with nonprofit and government partners, she opened Andrea’s No Cost Market in the Villa Park neighborhood in Denver and branched out to Lakewood three years ago.
To ensure weekly access to fresh food, MAP will also provide a donation-based market every other Wednesday opposite Andrea’s Market from 10 a.m. to noon until Sept. 23. Sprout City has introduced a new, donation-based model for access to farm goods this year after taking time off farming at Mountair Park, 5620 W. 14th Ave. During the time off, farm staff held community meetings to determine how to best support Lakewood residents, and now the farm is up and running with a commitment to sharing the full harvest at MAP at no cost.
Loudd said that this year, the need is significant in Lakewood.
“This year I have gotten such praise from people in Lakewood, and they have expressed so much gratitude that it was almost overwhelming,” she said. “They absolutely love it. Some of the people said that they have been trying to come over, and have mobility issues, but they came out at the last market. It’s getting better every season in Lakewood.”
Occasionally, donations can help supplement the usual market staples by providing eggs, fruits and even meat.
“It’s a wonderful surprise,” Loudd says of the donations. Regardless, she says that at “every market you will find household staples.”
Loudd, volunteers, and the MAP team help ensure that patrons take enough for themselves but leave enough for others. The food is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
“It depends on what I have, but for most staples, there is a limit to what each person can take,” Loudd said.
Volunteer opportunities are available with Andrea’s No Cost Market and at MAP. Stop by the MAP Comeback Kickoff event this Saturday, June 27 between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. for farm tours, resource tables, the SAME Cafe donation-based food truck, and even meet a few (guest) farm animals!
To learn more about opportunities this season at MAP, visit SproutCityFarms.org.