Food production in Phoenix: assessing the vulnerabilities of local growers to shocks and stress

Featuring KER community fellow Joseph Rossell from City of Phoenix

Our current food system is not yet resilient enough to weather large scale disruptions, as 2020 vividly demonstrates. An inadequate food system affects not only consumers, but the producers in Maricopa County suffer too.

“As the effects of the pandemic rippled across society and the economy, an already challenged local growingcommunity endured a new financial disruption,” says Joseph Rossell, program manager for the city of Phoenix community and economic development department.

“Shelter-in-place orders, restaurant closures, and shuttered schools impacted segments of their customer base, resulting in lost revenue,” Rossell adds.

During his fellowship, Rossell interviewed 30 Phoenix farmers about their vulnerabilities and preparations for future shocks.

“The fellowship created an invaluable opportunity for me to engage the local growing-community and learn how the city can better address their needs and challenges,” he says.

Learning that a significant number of growers lease their land worries Rossell the most. The position leaves them extremely vulnerable to displacement. Extreme climates, record-breaking temperatures, and lack of monsoon rains are other concerns.

There is cause for hope, though. Most of the farmers interviewed expressed interest — even excitement — at the prospect of partnering with the city of Phoenix to implement resilience measures that consider the full food journey: processing, distribution, outlets, and waste recycling.

“Working to understand the landscape, vulnerabilities, and needs of the local food production community represent the first phase of a much larger, comprehensive effort to support and promote the entire local food system,” Rossell says.

The city of Phoenix will be able to use his findings to design and adopt a new strategy to support and promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and resilience throughout he food system.