Find Fresh Groceries and Pantry Staples in Cloudcroft: Navigating the Food Desert on Sky Island
The Reader shares the best local spots to snag fresh and shelf-stable goods
Perched high in the Sacramento Mountains, Cloudcroft, New Mexico, is known for its breathtaking views, crisp mountain air, and charming small-town feel. But when it comes to groceries, residents and visitors face a unique challenge—there is no full-scale grocery store in town.
For communities like Timberon and Piñon, the trek for fresh food can be a two-hour round trip. The nearest grocery stores are miles away in Alamogordo, making local pantries, markets, and food resources essential for stocking up.
Living in the mountains with no grocery store presents unique challenges—and opportunities to shop small.
Here’s where to find your freshest food in and around Cloudcroft.
Fresh Veggies and Fruit
Sign up for Club Veg at Instant Karma. Alex Carilli, KK Highfill, and a small group of volunteers have brought clean, organic seasonal produce to the Cloudcroft community for over 10 years. Quarterly subscriptions are available.
Head over to the summer farmer’s market at the James Sewell Ice Rink at Zenith Park. Look for the event featuring local farms to open mid-summer. Typical hours are Fridays at 5:00 p.m. and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Bring cash!
Head down to Cadwallader Mountain Farms in the summer and fall to pick your produce straight from the trees. U-pick seasons are announced on their Facebook page. Remember to bring cash.
Allsup’s Market has a small produce section that typically carries carrots, bananas, oranges, limes, peppers, apples, onions, and avocados. Expect to pay more than your typical grocery store prices.
Meat, Dairy, and Eggs
The Turquoise Shop on Burro Avenue carries a deep freezer full of locally raised beef. The Burnett Ranch is east of Cloudcroft near Piñon and stocks mostly Angus cattle. The shop carries ground beef, tallow, lard, and various cuts of meat including roasts, short ribs, briskets, and ribeyes. You can also order a half- or whole-butchered beef through the shop.
Family Dollar and Allsup’s Market carry frozen and deli meats, as well as milk, eggs, dry and canned goods, and toiletries. Allsup’s carries a few fresh cuts of meat, as well.
The Walmart Neighborhood Market on Indian Wells in Alamogordo, New Mexico, currently delivers to Cloudcroft, including pharmacy prescriptions, with the option to tip your driver through the app.
By the pound: snag smoked meats from Mad Jack’s and Brother-in-Law BBQ.
Grab some New Mexico-made cheese from Noisy Water Winery, which carries unique flavors like Hatch Green Chile Garlic or Chimayo Jack and Sharp White Cheddar.
If you prefer to harvest your meat, you can apply for Big Game and Draw Hunts through New Mexico Game and Fish online. Deadlines to apply for deer, elk, and other big game typically end in March. Hunters enter a lottery system and tags are not guaranteed.
Great Pantry Goods
Instant Karma recently expanded its dry-goods offerings to include organic spices, teas, flours, ayurvedic health goods, and more. The camomille is locally sourced from Potter’s Ranch in Mayhill.
At Old Barrel Tea Company, you can snag a fresh cuppa or kombucha on tap while stocking up on spices and specialty blend loose-leaf teas.
Noisy Water Winery on the boardwalk carries pasta, piñon coffee, crackers, oils, vinegar, spices, dessert mixes and more.
For locally roasted coffee beans, check out Black Bear Coffee Shop at the end of Burro Avenue. If you're just visiting, they can ship their beans straight to you when you crave a taste of the mountains.
If you’re looking for bread and baked goods, look no further than Cloudcroft’s plentiful bakeries: Eight the Cake, Burro Street, High Rollin’ Coffee, and Kennabelle’s Bakery.
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Picking Up Good Libations
Grab a pack of your favorite microbrew from Cloudcroft Brewing Company or spirits like whiskey, vodka, and gin straight from their in-house distillery.
The Western Bar & Cafe has a petite package store next door, which carries beer, wine, a range of spirits, non-alcoholic options, and mixers.
Noisy Water Winery stocks local wines ranging from sweet to dry and everything in between. Join the quarterly wine club to have bottles shipped directly to you and enjoy free tastings.
Sacramento Mountain Steadies
When in Timberon, find canned, frozen, and dry goods at the Timberon Mountain Market, which carries fresh bakes from local shops 5Donuts and Sweet-n-Sour Cottage Bakery. The Busy Bee General Store in Timberon carries a selection of dry and frozen goods, a well.
Remember before you embark on your journey to Timberon: the remote village doesn’t have a gas station. You can fill up at these near-ish locations first:
The Mayhill Country Store along Highway 82 stocks “a little bit of everything,” including gifts, fudge, and dry goods.
The Weed Store on Agua Chiquita Road carries grocery goods, diesel and unleaded fuel, and more.
Allsup’s Market in Cloudcroft carries diesel and unleaded fuel. You can also charge your electric vehicle at a charging station along Burro Avenue in front of the Otero County Electric Cooperative building.
Happy trails!
Did we miss a local gem that sells fresh goods? Let us know at food@cloudcroftreader.com.
The objective of Leadership Cloudcroft is to identify and help prepare leaders who are prepared to take charge in volunteer, civic, business, and community roles. Anyone, local or seasonal, who wants to get more involved with helping our community should consider joining this cohort. The application deadline is May 28th.
The Reader is proud to be sponsored by great businesses like High Altitude:
Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like:
The Stove and Spa Store
We offer a variety of services to ensure your hearth and spa dreams are met!The Lodge at Cloudcroft
Landmark Choice Among New Mexico ResortsDusty Boots Motel and Cafe
Have a beautiful, restful nightInstant Karma
Adventure Within: Transformative Yoga, Ayurvedic Wisdom, Nourishing Organics, Fair Trade BoutiqueOff the Beaten Path
Eclectic gifts & original artworkFuture Real Estate
Raise your expectations.Ski Cloudcroft
You’re going to love Ski CloudcroftCloudcroft Therapeutic Massage
Maximizing Movement, Quality of Life Improvement.High Altitude
Your favorite little outdoor outfitter on Burro Avenue.The Elk Shed
Purveyors of Southwest Mountain Goods & FineryPeñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative
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