A New Seasons in Milwaukie, Ore., eliminates food desert

A New Seasons Market in Milwaukie, Ore., had a soft opening on March 22, marking an end to a food desert that has existed since 2015. 

The official start up will happen on Wednesday with a bread-breaking ceremony, live music, farm animals, and free samples. 

The 28,000-square-foot store will be part of the Milwaukie Marketplace and will feature local and organic produce sourced from Pacific Northwest farmers; chef-prepared seasonal deli options; organic and everyday grocery staples and bulk foods; local craft beer, cider and wine, artisan cheeses, and baked goods; and a full-service floral department.  

The path to opening was a winding one. It was first announced that a New Seasons store would fill the vacant grocery space back in 2021, and the grand opening date was pushed back multiple times before settling on March 27. The store has created 100 jobs. 

For almost a decade the area met the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition of a food desert because the closest grocery store was more than a mile away. 

“This has been a multi-year effort for the city as it strived to support our Milwaukie Marketplace property owners and commercial brokers, while also endeavoring to market the space on its own,” said Joseph Briglio, community development director for the city of Milwaukie. “This commercial area is a vital asset in our community, but it’s been underutilized. Having a partner like New Seasons invest and expand in Milwaukie should help provide the spark this shopping center has needed for quite some time.” 

New Seasons Market is based in Portland, Ore., and operates 20 stores in the Portland area.