Local Food & Urban Agriculture

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What is a community Food System?

Grow Local Tempe Thumbnail Image A community food system is a network of processes that brings the food you eat from the farm to your plate (and beyond!). This system is composed of food producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers -- everyone who creates, transports, or eats food plays an important role. This system shapes the way we live, how we eat, and how we are able to support members of our community.

USDA Community Food Systems Graphic, outlining the different processes within the food system: production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food.

Source: Diagram courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Community Food Systems (fsn.usda.gov).

What is Urban Agriculture?

Urban Agriculture is the practice of growing, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas, and it is one of the City of Tempe's strategies to create a more sustainable food system. "Urban agriculture" can mean many different things -- urban farms, community gardens, food forests, school gardens, farmers' markets (and more!) are all types of urban agriculture. Click here to learn more about the different types of urban agriculture.

Urban agriculture makes our community food system more equitable and resilient by increasing residents' access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food in their neighborhoods. The City of Tempe is working to advance food access and community well-being by developing new urban agriculture projects in schools, public spaces, and residential areas.

Local Food Near You

COMMUNITY FOOD MAP

The Community Food map highlights the Tempe food system, including community gardens, school gardens, produce pick-up sites, seed libraries, and emergency food resources. Click here to explore the map.

FARM BAGS

Are you looking for high quality, locally grown fruits, veggies, and food products? Farm Bags are pre-packed bags full of Arizona grown produce and distributed at several locations in Tempe. Check out the locations in Tempe where you can pick up bag of fresh produce each week!

Clark Park Farm Bags are available on two Saturdays per month at the Clark Park Community Garden (1740 S. Roosevelt St, Tempe, AZ 85281).
Rover Elementary Farm Bags are available one Friday per month for pickup at Rover Elementary School (1300 E. Watson, Tempe, Arizona 85283). SNAP is accepted at this location.
Tracy Dempsey Originals offers a weekly Farm Bag that can be picked up on Friday or Saturday at the bakery (1323 W. University Drive, Tempe 85281).
Foxtail Community Garden offers a Farm Bag that are available on two Saturdays per month at their location (2240 S. Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).
Blue Sky Organic Farm Bags are available at two pick-up sites in Tempe. Click here for more information and pricing.
- Grace Community Church Thursday from 2 to 4 pm, bi-weekly (Connection Center, 1200 E Southern Ave Tempe, AZ 85282). Choose between the classic (6-7 in-season pre-selected certified organic produce items) and petite box (4-5 in-season pre-selected certified organic produce items).
- ASU Walton Center for Planetary Health (2nd floor, 777 E University Drive Tempe, AZ 85281) ASU Students and employees only Thursday from 3:15 to 5:30 pm, bi-weekly. Choose between the classic (6-7 in-season pre-selected certified organic produce items) and petite box (4-5 in-season pre-selected certified organic produce items).

FARM EXPRESS

Experience a unique way to buy produce by shopping the Farm Express bus! This city-bus-turned-mobile-market is a great place to find Arizona grown produce alongside crowd favorites like bananas and avocados. As a nonprofit, Farm Express doesn’t mark up the cost of produce so shoppers will benefit from buying high quality produce at lower costs. All are welcome to shop on the bus, and SNAP is accepted as well as Double Up Food Bucks which allows SNAP/EBT recipients to double their food dollars and take home even more fruits and vegetables.

You can find the bus at Encore on Farmer every other Tuesday from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and at the Tempe Public Library every other Tuesday from 1:30 – 3:00 PM. Visit Activate Food Arizona for more information and weekly schedules.

Past Work: Grow Local Tempe Initiative

Grow Local Tempe was an initiative to expand access to healthy, affordable food by developing new urban agriculture projects. This initiative aimed to empower Tempe residents to shape the city's food system that better support their food access and education needs.

Presented as an active record of the community’s engaging spirit, preferences, and concerns, The Grow Local Report charts a path forward to continue Tempe and the community’s efforts towards a vibrant and flourishing urban agriculture landscape. To read more about our Arizona Food System, please take a look at this comprehensive report from ASU's Swette Center.

Listen

Tell us what you think!

The City of Tempe is interested in learning what matters to Tempe residents when it comes to accessing healthy food, food education, and urban agriculture. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts, which will help us develop food systems programs in the city.

Please note this survey is only open to Tempe residents. Click here to take the survey in English. If you prefer to take this survey in Spanish, click here.

The Sustainability & Resilience Division is focused on building a resilient food system in Tempe that is connected with local and regional food producers and growers, increases access to healthy food, and is grounded in the needs of the community.