Council approves direct lease approach to host Slow Food marketplace at Vertical Harvest

The Town of Jackson on Feb. 17 authorized staff to update the town’s commercial lease for the Vertical Harvest building and to draft a direct lease with Slow Food of the Tetons so the nonprofit can operate its year-round online marketplace out of one compartment of the building.

Staff told the council that subleasing from Vertical Harvest to Slow Food is prohibited under the town’s preferred practice and recommended amending the Vertical Harvest lease so Slow Food would lease directly from the town and Vertical Harvest would lease the remaining five compartments. Staff proposed that Vertical Harvest continue to pay recapture payments tied to a prior grant, that Slow Food pay a proportional share of rent (one-sixth), and that utilities be allocated proportionally (staff proposed 85% to Vertical Harvest and 15% to Slow Food for the services cited).

Neli Yahya, cofounder and CEO of Vertical Harvest, described the building’s six compartments and the organization’s mission. "This partnership allows us to focus on what we do best while allowing Slow Food to activate the public-facing component of the building," Yahya said, arguing that the arrangement strengthens production and workforce-development programming. Caroline Croft Estee, a Vertical Harvest cofounder who oversees hiring and workforce development, told the council the facility "has grown jobs and grown confidence" and that the partnership would expand meaningful employment pathways.

Scott Steen, executive director of Slow Food of the Tetons, described the marketplace program — launched during COVID — that supports more than 30 local and regional producers and moves about $300,000 in produce annually. He told council the marketplace provides essential distribution and food-access services and that a permanent home would stabilize those programs.

Dozens of public commenters — food-assistance partners, employees, farmers and market users — urged the council to approve the direct-lease approach, highlighting the partnership’s community benefits and the need for a stable location for the marketplace.

Councilor Beaman moved, and Councilor Regan seconded, a direction to staff to update the commercial lease and draft a direct lease between the town and Slow Food of the Tetons consistent with staff recommendations. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff will prepare amendments to the Vertical Harvest lease that remove the ban on direct tenancy for the specified compartment, clean up security-interest language and address parking and utility allocations; staff recommended Slow Food pay a proportionate share of rent and utilities while Vertical Harvest remains responsible for recapture obligations tied to the former grant.