Film Series on the State of Arizona’s Local Food Economy Debuts

Produced by Local First Arizona’s Good Food Finder, The Good Food Film Series will feature monthly, independent short film releases dedicated to documenting and sharing Arizona’s food access stories and the societal challenges the farming and food community face through February 2022. These are stories of the often unseen heroes, doing the good work of not only growing and providing healthy, fresh food to our communities but also taking bold environmental and food sovereignty action to create a more sustainable and just local food system.

“This pandemic revealed just how fragile our food system is, and when emergency food operations were in dire need across Arizona, local farms and food producers heeded that call,” said Somlynn Rorie, Local First Arizona Food & Farm Initiatives Manager. “Through the Good Food Film Series, we explore some daunting questions: Will Arizona be able to feed itself in the coming decades? Are we building a food system that can equitably serve and provide for our community should another disaster of this nature hit?”

The Spring film series covers topics of urgency and are available for purchase now:

Mar. 9: The State of Arizona Farmland

David Vose and Sara Dolan of Blue Sky Organic Farms have just planted their last season of crops on their leased land in West Phoenix. They must be moved out by July 1, 2021, when a new home builder takes ownership. With the amount of work that it takes to set up a new farming operation, David and Sara need to have land that they can purchase or lease by the end of April 2021.

Apr. 13: Are Edible Landscapes and Trees the Answer to Arizona’s Rising Climate Crisis?

Darren Chapman of TigerMountain Foundation walks us through their collaboration with Trees Matter that honors the lives lost to Covid, addresses food insecurity through the planting of fruit trees, and improves the shade canopy at Spaces of Opportunity located in South Phoenix.

In Tucson, learn how the Iskashitaa Refugee Network is gleaning residential fruit trees to empower refugees and feed vulnerable communities. Also, meet Herman Harris and Randiesia Fletcher, of Harris-Fletcher Enterprises, who are creating an edible food forest in Tucson to feed their community and provide a shaded reprieve for those relying on public transit.

May 11: The Business of Farm to Food Banks

Gain a first-hand perspective from Duncan Family Farms® on the vital role local farms play in supporting food banks’ increasing food needs.

Hear the story of a partnership between the United Food Bank and Nalwoodi Denzhone Community (NDC) located on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and how they’re creating a movement toward food sovereignty.

Upcoming topics slated for later this year also include: What’s Regenerative Farming, Food As Medicine, Safeguarding Arizona’s Water with Improved Agricultural Farming Practices, and Farming as a Revolutionary Act for Food Sovereignty.

Viewers can watch these on-demand films by purchasing an individual film for ($7.50) or purchasing an annual Good Food Film Series all-access pass for ($65) at goodfoodfinderaz.com/good-food-film-series. Proceeds from the films support Local First Arizona’s food programming, such as at the Good Food Finder, Local First Community Kitchen, and Coalition for Farmland Preservation, whose ongoing work supports a vibrant, equitable food economy here in Arizona.

The Good Food Film Series is made possible by community sponsors: Maricopa Community Colleges; United Food Bank; City of Phoenix: Office of Environmental Programs; Town of Gilbert; Pinnacle Prevention; Arizona Food Systems Network; Native American Connections; Arizona Milk Producers; Duncan Family Farms®; University of Arizona Center of Regional Food Studies; One AZ Credit Union; Maricopa County Food Coalition; and Edible Phoenix.

Additionally, these films will be seen by students and used in course programming for Rio Salado Community College’s Sustainable Food Systems and Center of Regional Food Studies at U of A. The films bring awareness of our local food system to a general audience and educate food advocates on today’s issues in order to build a stronger tomorrow.

Good Food Finder AZ is an online resource of Local First Arizona focused on providing resources and support to Arizona’s farm and food community and local food consumers. Each year, Good Food Finder AZ hosts two events: the Arizona Food & Farm Forum and the Arizona Good Food Expo. Both events strive to convene leaders of the local food movement to foster new business connections, strengthen industry networks, and bolster the Arizona food system. Good Food Finder is an online resource hub for farmers, food producers, restaurants, and food buyers. Eat, grow, and discover local food in Arizona.

Founded in 2003 by Kimber Lanning, Local First Arizona (LFA) is a community and economic development organization working to strengthen local economies. LFA educates consumers about the interconnectedness of the economy, trains small businesses to be more effective and more competitive, helps larger Arizona businesses and institutions tell their story as champions of Arizona, and creates programs and events that make it fun and easy to discover local businesses and buy local.