Allora McChesney

Arizona Sustainability Alliance's Sustainable Food Systems Priority creates and supports regenerative local food systems by focusing on providing education and project-based solutions. From local farmers to elementary school students, AZSA is dedicated to helping Arizona save the "foo-ture". 

AZSA's main objectives for its Sustainable Food Systems Priority help illustrate the importance of community, equality, and education:

• Increase food security in low-income communities and mitigate food deserts by creating and supporting projects that provide low-income communities with equitable, affordable, convenient access to healthy foods.
• Provide education to Arizonans on best practices for growing, eating and recycling healthy foods
• Provide support to local farmers, distributors and vendors to strengthen the local food economy by increasing the amount of food that is grown and consumed locally

Each objective is equally important and prioritized by our existing programs and projects. 

The Sow It Forward: Vertical Garden Program, for example, provides local elementary schools with indoor, aeroponic gardens that both educate the students on gardening, and provide healthy, fresh food. The limitations of space, time, and resources that most schools face is mitigated with this cutting-edge technology, the benefits of which are substantial and meaningful to both the teachers, and students.

Help-A-Farm, on the other hand, provides assistance to local farmers. These farms are the backbone of our local food culture, and a big part of our economy. Through relationship building and open communication AZSA is able to provide meaningful assistance that will help strengthen not only the farms, but Arizona. 

This year to help promote our fundraiser we have volunteers and board members participating in the mud pie milestone challenge. When we reach certain monetary goals videos will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram stories of our participants being mud-pied in the face. 

With you help AZSA can continue to grow and support our local food systems, which provides sustenance and stability to our amazing state. So please, consider donating to our 2020 Giving Tuesday Fundraiser to save the "Foo-ture"!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AZSustain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azsustainabilityalliance/