Who We Are
Mission
Our mission is to support and grow a food system in Maricopa County that is healthy, equitable, sustainable, and thriving. Four core values define our mission and guide us in our work.
HEALTH
Supports the physical health, mental health, and overall well-being of all Maricopa County residents.
EQUITY
Equal access to quality, affordable, and culturally appropriate food for all Maricopa County residents.
SUSTAINABILITY
Supports the current population without compromising future generations through responsible stewardship of our natural resources.
capacity for communities to thrive
Empowers the community, drives a vibrant economy, embraces our cultural diversity, and inspires innovation.
What Drives Our Work
What challenges do we face in the fourth most populous and fastest growing county in the U.S.?
1 in 5
Maricopa County children experience food insecurity
24%
Decrease in the number of Maricopa County farms from 2012 to 2017
60
The average age of a Maricopa County farmer
"There is no real dialogue about the need to have farmland if we are going to eat. This needs to be done quickly."
Key Stakeholder, Building Community Food Networks Report
What is a Food System?
A food system is the path that food travels from fields to your fork, and all the components that are a part of that path. Some of these components include government policies, resources available for production such as land and water, and the availability and affordability of healthy food.Â
A local, or community food system considers not only this path, but also the relationships, networks, and the people that make it possible.Â
How We Work
Our Charter
The Maricopa County Food System Coalition Charter describes the purpose and structure of the Coalition.Â
Principles of Operation
Shared leadership, working together towards common goals and the greater good, and an effort to be community focused and collaborative.
Methods to Achieve Our Mission
Examples include identifying and strengthening existing assets, convening diverse stakeholders, educating and raising awareness, and influencing policy.
Decision-Making Process
The Coalition uses a consensus model to reach decisions.
The History of MarCo
MarCo first came together in 2015 after a group of food systems stakeholders – including non-profits, growers, and community-based organizations – realized the need to better coordinate the many food-related efforts across the county. Through support from Vitalyst Health Foundation, the Coalition was formed to connect and leverage these efforts towards common goals.
Are you interested in helping individuals and organizations in Maricopa County strengthen the food system so we can grow better, eat better, and be more sustainable?
Become a part of our community.
What We Leverage
A Coalition Rich in Experience and Expertise
Breadth of Experience
MarCo’s network helps leverage the shared experience of Coalition representatives from more than 30 organizations and enables us to engage in collaborative partnerships with many others.
Diversity of Food System Roles
Our members include individuals involved in the production, consumption, processing, distribution, and recovery of food.
Relationships with Decision Makers
We are made up of policymakers, educators, advocates, and researchers, as well as organizations that engage with the community to achieve our mission.
Represented Sectors
Agriculture
Government
Community
Processing
Distribution
Health
Education
Food Access
Featured
In The News
Phoenix is putting together its first citywide Food Action Plan.
Read about the City of Phoenix Food Action Plan, approved by the City Council in March 2020.
Family farms made Phoenix livable, so why are so many going away?
This article references data from the Economic Contribution of Agriculture study completed by the University of Arizona as part of MarCo's Food Assessment.
How Phoenix food banks, non-profits, academics work together to fight food waste, hunger.
This feature introduces the Coalition, the Food Assessment, and recognizes the hard work of our Coalition Members.
Get Involved
Want to help further our mission? Join the Coalition, attend a meeting, or donate to support our work. You can also sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page.