Cultivating Oxford’s Community Market

As costs rise, Oxford Community Market calls on its biggest strength: the people who love and support it.

Written by Lena Anderson  |  Photographed by Joe Worthem

Every Tuesday afternoon, the Old Armory Pavilion transforms into something magical. Farmers unload trucks filled with just-picked vegetables. Bakers stack loaves of warm bread. Musicians tune their guitars while children chase each other between vendor tables. For more than a decade, Oxford Community Market (OXCM) has been the heartbeat of local food in Lafayette County — a place where farmers and neighbors meet, where fresh food is accessible to all and where community feels like family.

“It’s not just a market. It’s a community,” said market director Betsy Chapman, who has led OXCM for 11 years. “When people tell me they feel like they belong the first time they come, that’s the highest compliment. It feels like a family reunion, even if you don’t know anyone yet.”

That sense of belonging is what keeps people coming back week after week. OXCM is one of just a handful of year-round farmers markets in Mississippi, operating 50 weeks each year. It supports more than 35 loyal farmers and food producers, most of whom have partnered with the market for over a decade. The market also invests deeply in food access, from accepting SNAP and WIC benefits to delivering thousands of pounds of fresh produce annually to The Pantry through its Harvest Angel Project.

But keeping the market thriving comes at a cost. Rental fees for the Old Armory Pavilion — OXCM’s home since 2015 — have recently increased significantly, adding new financial strain to the nonprofit’s operating budget. For a small community-based organization, the rise poses a real challenge.

“The most essential thing we need is stability — a reliable place to bring people together,” Chapman said. “We bring the fun, the music, the food, the farmers, the creativity. But we need a home base to make it all happen.”

That need for stability sparked the idea for Hometown Hootenanny, a new fundraiser to be held Nov. 30 at The Lyric. The event promises an evening of food, music and celebration, rooted in the same generous spirit that makes Tuesday afternoons at the Pavilion so special.

Among those helping bring the event to life is local chef of SoLa and market supporter Erika Lipe, one of the main organizers behind the Hootenanny. Like many who have long been part of the market community, Lipe sees OXCM as much more than a place to shop — it’s a connector and a catalyst, bringing together farmers, makers and neighbors in ways that strengthen Oxford’s local food scene and its sense of togetherness. (Read more about Lipe here: Spirit of SoLa)

Chapman hopes the fundraiser will showcase that spirit while also providing a sustainable foundation for the market’s future.

“We don’t want to lose what we’ve built over the past decade,” she said. “This market matters. Our connections to each other matter. And the place where we do this work every week matters.”

Whether you show up on a Tuesday to shop, or at the Hootenanny on Nov. 30 to dance, eat and celebrate, OXCM is inviting the community to be part of something bigger: ensuring that the market, and all the good it makes possible, can keep growing for years to come.

Hometown Hootenanny

Mark your calendars: OXCM’s Hometown Hootenanny fund-raiser event takes over The Lyric on Sunday, Nov. 30, bringing together everything Oxford loves best — good food, live music and community spirit — all to support the Oxford Community Market.

Inspired by OXCM’s legendary vendor potlucks, where farmers and bakers compete (good-naturedly) to bring their most delicious creations, the Hootenanny will feature dishes prepared by some of Oxford’s favorite restaurants, along with desserts and sides from beloved market vendors. Guests can expect the biggest and best potluck they’ve ever seen, elevated with a touch of hometown flair.

In addition to local food, the evening will be filled with lively entertainment, including performances from local musicians, dancing, a pie walk and a silent auction. There’s even a western wear competition — so boots and hats are highly encouraged.

“It’s going to be a true reflection of the market’s personality: laidback, generous and fun,” market director Betsy Chapman said.

Tickets, $40, can be purchased in person at the market or online at oxfordcommunitymarket.com.

All proceeds will help sustain the market’s programs to ensure its continued success.