The impetus for Prickly Pear Food Co-op began in January 2021, a month after Mountain View Market Co-op in Las Cruces closed. Realizing there was a need for a thriving food cooperative in Sierra County, several members of the community began a process of meeting, brainstorming, consulting with the Food Cooperative Initiative, raising funds and making plans that would last until the end of 2022, when the Prickly Pear Food Cooperative was officially established as a business.

PPFC began holding bi-weekly distributions out of the basement of St. Paul’s Church in Truth or Consequences in January 2023. We started selling surplus at our current partner and host location for distributions, The Charles Hotsprings Resort, in July 2023, where we moved full-time following a temporary distribution location at Snakestone Studios. The following years have been spent strengthening our operations, as well as building partnerships with local and regional farmers, ranchers and food hubs.

Much like the delicious produce we offer, Prickly Pear Food Co-op has blossomed from a humble seed into a scrappy but successful organization, owned by its members and dedicated to building community, offering high-quality, healthful products, and strengthening our local food system. In May 2025, PPFC secured a $25,000 grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Healthy Food Financing Fund. We are beyond excited to continue working toward our ultimate goal of establishing our own permanent, brick-and-mortar retail location in downtown T or C!