City, BJCTA to cut ribbon on new Birmingham Central Market

The new Birmingham Central Market, located at the MAX Central Station transit facility downtown, was scheduled to hold its ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m., according to Mayor Randall Woodfin.

The market is a joint effort of the city and the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority to make healthy, high-quality food available to more residents of the Magic City.

“This market will fill a great need for MAX bus passengers and the public who do not necessarily stay in proximity to healthy food,” Woodfin told the Birmingham City Council at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The market will allow bus passengers to pick up healthy food items while en route from “Point A to B,” Woodfin said.

Almost 70% of Birmingham residents live in urban areas designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as food deserts, which are defined as areas where it’s difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food, according to city officials.

Woodfin, BJCTA Executive Director Frank T. Martin and Birmingham City Council President William Parker were scheduled to take part in the official opening of the market, according to a city news release. There will also be information tables and healthy cooking demonstrations at the event.

The market will be open Monday through Friday from 12:30-5:30 p.m., and  SNAP/EBT will be accepted.

Seven farmers are currently confirmed, with more to come, selling fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and honey. 

The city was awarded a grant of $50,000 from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help fund the market. The city then contributed an additional $100,000, and the BJCTA provided $50,000 towards construction costs and $43,000 in in-kind donations.