alleviate hunger and create food sufficiency for low-income households

  

Community Food Connections


Community Food Connections is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization established in 2002 whose mission it is to grow strong communities, healthy food, healthy families and healthy farms. We work to improve access to healthy food in underserved areas through expanding outlets for and production of local food. Our programs create jobs, support micro-enterprise development and build family self-sufficiency.

 

CFC has a successful track record including developing nutrition services at farmers markets statewide, a Farm to School Program and the Downtown Phoenix Public Market.  We developed the resources to bring the federal WIC and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program to Arizona, as well as wireless point of sale terminals that can process food stamps at open-air markets. Our Farm to School program links local farmers with schools to improve the nutritional offerings in the cafeterias, often at low-income schools. This initiative not only improves the health of the children but creates new outlets for small local farmers who are struggling to make ends meet. 

 

This Good Food video was produced by Fourth Sector Consulting for the

WK Kellogg Foundation: click on the arrow below to play.

 

Our work includes:

  • Hunger Prevention through the Arizona Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, the EBT at Farmers' Market Project.  
  • Building self-reliant local and regional food systems with strategies that include  creating and offering on-going workshops to develop community leaders and community solutions to meet local food needs, develop infrastructure to support identified strengths and address gaps.
  • Creating and supporting local and regional economic and community development activities like the Downtown Phoenix Public Market and a pilot Farm to Cafeteria Program in order to improve overall quality of life and create healthier choices for Arizona households.

As you shop at a farmers' market this week you may meet up with an old acquaintance or make a new friend, try something new...or, taking a walk in your neighborhood you may also discover a community garden -  a place of many uses and seasons: besides fruits and vegetables, gardens grow relationships, creativity, and communication. They offer a place to enjoy the beauty and solace of nature even in the midst of an urban setting.

The market, the garden, the kitchen, the hearth, the dinner table, all build around la olla común (common pot) where food creates connections. Where smells, sounds, sights, and some of the best ideas are generated in a hundred daily ways.  Food - getting it, growing it, selling it, buying it, cooking it, eating it, making sure everyone has enough of it , just has its ways of bringing people together.  And where people come together there is community. Where there is community, individual ideas, dreams and strength connect and can be made even greater.


Phoenix 
Public Market

Urban Grocery and Wine Bar:

Tuesday - Friday

11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturdays

8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Open-Air:
Wednesdays
4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturdays
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Inside Phoenix :: 
Expansion Plans for the Market
View New Video play video
play with Windows Media Player,
if needed
download Windows Media Player here

Video provided courtesy

City of Phoenix Public
Information Office

Phoenix Channel 11

www.phoenix.gov/11


What's Happening

Many thanks to all of you who visit the Market through rain and shine!

Your donation supports downtown's first local food grocery store. Located just adjacent to the current Market site, the Market Store increases your access to fresh, local products, add to the Market's visibility, and help us grow closer to our goal of establishing a permanent public market in the heart of our city.

With your donation to Community Food Connections and the Phoenix Public Market, you also are supporting local small businesses, independent artisans, and Arizona agriculture.

Join us now on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PHXPublicMarket

and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/phoenixpublicmarket

Wine Tasting tonight (Wed. 2/3) inside at the Market’s Wine Bar – join us 5 – 7 p.m.!

 

And don’t miss this wonderful article on downtown, Royal Coffee Bar and, the Phoenix Public Market in the New York Times - http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/travel/31surfacing.html

 

Acoustic LIVE!! at the Royal Coffee Bar, 14 E. Pierce St. Phoenix , 7:00 – 10:00 PM Friday, February 5th. The Urban Grocery and Wine Bar will stay open till 10 as well.

 

Wednesday Open-Air Market – Double Check Ranch, El Zaguan Café, Spice n Rub, Dry Bay Fish and the Tamale Store are some of the vendors at tonight’s Market, Look for kale, beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, salad mix, citrus, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower at our farm stalls. Jelly Kings will be on hand to sample their pepper jellies in the Urban Grocery.

 

Saturday Market – Market music is by Ron Bowen. Vicklet Creations, Alluring Gypsy, Simon’s Gardens, Pat on the Back, The Gardener’s Kitchen, and Candy’s Apples are some featured vendors. Plenty of crafts and treats to sweeten up your sweetie in time for Valentine’s Day! Poverty’s Pets is back and so is Fiscalini Cheese!

 

Come by the Phoenix Permaculture Guild’s new and improved booth – complete with some cool goodies for sale - Books, Tshirts and more!  For instance, you can now purchase ollas (unglazed pots that slowly release water keeping those roots cool and moist as our weather heats up) made by a terrific local potter. Please check www.phoenixpermaculture.org for class location and more info.

 

More events:

Tomato Fest: Sat., Feb. 13, 2010 - Maya's Farm at the Farm at South Mountain, 6106 S. 32nd St.

Tomatoes can be hard to grow in the desert. Come and learn how from the local pros! We will have classes taught by local Tomato experts on choosing the variety that's right for you, prep and planting in your garden, pruning and caring for your Tomatoes, and how to keep them around all year long.

The class schedule is as follows:

10:00 - Tim Moore will teach best soil practices
12:00 - Carl Seacat will teach Tomatoes 101
2:00 -Dave Parkin will teach Keeping Tomatoes year round.

To attend the event and purchase tomato starts is free. To attend any one or all three of the classes the cost is $10 each or all three for $25. ***To RSVP for the event and purchase tickets please visit http://slowfoodtomato.eventbrite.com - class size is limited to 35 people for each class.

 

Feb. 21st, Sunday, at the Market: Natalie’s fundraiser and send-off: Join us for this fundraising and sendoff event at the Phoenix Public Market for live music, local food and wine and friends in support of sending Natalie Morris to Italy for one year for an educational opportunity of a lifetime.

 

Who Will Be There:

Chef Wade Moises, PastaBar - featuring Double Check Ranch grass-fed beef & Seacat Gardens' Heirloom Tomatoes

Lara Hardwick, Petit Fromage - featuring various artisan cheeses

Chefs Dwayne and Danielle, The Breadfruit

Chef Elizabeth, Market Chef featuring Maya's Farm...and more! Check back for updates including the surprise local band!

 

Pricing, Goal and Donations:

Our goal of $40,000 will be reached through the $35 entrance fee which includes food, drink, etc. and additional donations which will be taken at the event.  If you would like to donate but cannot attend the event, please see http://pledgie.com/campaigns/8035

 

Why: 

Having been accepted to the Master of Food Culture program at the Slow Food initiated school, The University of Gastronomic Sciences, is a tremendous honor. Natalie is very fortunate to have 1 of the 50 spots made available to the approximately 1000 applicants worldwide. Having this opportunity allows her to study in northern Italy, the birthplace of Slow Food, and learn directly from its founder Carlo Petrini. With this degree and information learned, she hopes to be able to return to Phoenix to impart her knowledge of food security and biodiversity and promote those farms and ranches who actively live by these standards. 

 

 

Sonoran Root Beer -  Did you know it's caffeine free?
Sold by the bottle (next to the Info Booth!)
www.sonoranbrewing.com


» Belinda's Pickles (from the Pickle Lady)!

 


 

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            Working to alleviate hunger and create food sufficiency for low-income
                      households through community and economic development

 
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