Basic Needs Food Market is open at 8475 East Point Douglas Drive Suite 106, in Cottage Grove.

The food market, located in Jamaica Plaza just off the Burger King exit on East Point Douglas Drive, seeks to combat area food insecurity by providing a “walk-in, welcoming, and dignity-based” food market complete with grocery staples.

Opening this past Sept. 14, a ribbon cutting is planned for the market on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

Working in partnership with area businesses to get food where it needs to go, the Basic Needs Food Market includes the following features:

A refreshing take on a traditional food pantry

Our market offers a walk-in, welcoming, dignity-based, choice-focused food market, including well-stocked grocery staples, a consistent supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, and an anonymity and convenience-based shopping experience designed for clients hesitant to engage with the hunger relief sector.

What the community needs, when they need it.

Shoppers can take advantage of the Market’s shelves, which are restocked daily, with 80 percent of the food rescued from local businesses. No eligibility requirements exist, so anyone can access the market once a day, weekly, or monthly – whenever needed. Upon check-out and voluntarily, a person’s phone number, zip code, household size, and household age(s) will be requested.

With no eligibility requirement and open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Food Market invites those in need from the community to stop in. Visitors are greeted and provided with a cart to shop, and signs in English, Spanish, and Hmong announcing how much of each food item can be chosen in each section.

Volunteer food market workers are welcome as well, with more information at www.basicneedsmn.org/volunteer.