Arizona Black Farmers + Local Food Businesses
Discover up-and-coming Black-owned food businesses that have participated in Local First Arizona’s initiatives, such as We Rise, Feed Phoenix, and our Community Kitchen Incubator.
Traditionally, Black-owned businesses have struggled to secure bank accounts for loans, startup capital, or even acquire investors. Here’s our chance to show up and do our part to create an inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable Arizona economy, which in turn strengthens and supports racial equity.
Act with your pocketbook and support our local Black-owned food businesses and Black farmers who need us!
Food Businesses & Restaurants Partnering with Local First Arizona Programs
Hot Sauce and Pepper | Graduate of our Community Kitchen Incubator
Owners Tajia and Aaron have transformed their long-beloved soul food recipes into vegan alternatives to support a healthier lifestyle. They are best known for their “cauliwings,” that are made from organic cauliflower, unbleached flour, and non-GMO grapeseed oil. Once fried to golden brown perfection, the wings get tossed in their Sweet Mambo, Spicy Mambo, or hot signature sauces. Check them out on Instagram.
FernDiggity | Graduate of our Community Kitchen Incubator
Fernanda Sayles has perfected her pastry skills to offer “feel good” comfort food classics, like banana pudding and strawberry shortcake. She grew up watching her mother bake and often her family would fight over the last pieces of dessert. You can bet you’ll be doing the same! Today, she utilizes sustainable glass packaging to create individual portions of her desserts. To see her menu and place an order, go here.
Fresh Peak Natural Juices | Business in our Community Kitchen Incubator
Keosha Hooks is the brain behind Fresh Peak Natural Juices. She does not use any preservatives, sugar, or artificial flavors in her products. Her made-fresh juice can be used as a cleanse, an easy way to get fruits and veggies in your diet, or as an immune-boosting nectar. For pickup in the Laveen area or for a small delivery fee, check out their website.
Maya’s Cajun Kitchen | Graduate of our Community Kitchen Incubator
Growing up in Shreveport, LA, Maya was exposed to Creole and Cajun style foods of the area. After moving to Arizona, Maya recognized that “Cajun” was nonexistent in the Southwest. In order to share her love for flavorful Cajun food in a healthier format, she created vegan versions of staples, like her Vegan Shrimp or Chick’n Less Po’ Boys. She even makes her own Maya’s Cajun blend seasoning! To find her next popup event, visit Maya’s Cajun Kitchen.
Simply Celeste | We Rise Graduate
Celeste Talley vows that you will get “nothing but the best” from her catering company. Stress-free and memorable events are her specialty. A family history of entrepreneurship and a love of all things “foodie” has made Celeste a versatile caterer. She has an extensive menu and will work with your needs to carefully curate a personalized meal for you and your guests. Learn more here.
Chilte | Graduate of our Community Kitchen Incubator
Lawrence Smith is the owner and chef behind Chilte. He values connecting and building a community through his food. He also uses local ingredients to inspire and create dishes that push the limits of his culinary skills. To try his innovative and exciting cuisine street food, head over to their Instagram.
Derek Sips | Graduate of We Rise
Derek Robinson has a love of coffee, food, and travel! He believes that all coffee tells a story through its complex flavors and origin, and he focuses on creating small, freshly roasted batches of coffee beans at affordable prices. These freshly roasted beans elevate the complex flavors, and Derek Sips wants to share that with you. Find his products here.
Early Bird Vegan | Feed Phoenix Participant
A self-proclaimed “everyday eatery” that offers a wide array of plant-based and healthful grab-and-go items. Their entire menu is 100% vegan, including the pastries that are egg- and dairy-free. Chef Krystal was born and raised in the Valley of the Sun and understands the value of local, quality ingredients. She even operates an organic vegetable farm, which supplies her catering needs. Learn more about Chef Krystal and where to find her delicious food.
All About Food | Feed Phoenix Participant
Red snapper, chicken wings, citrus shrimp, fried okra, cajun fries…is your mouth watering yet? Be sure to check out Chef Michelle Daniels creations for All About Food in South Phoenix. She prides herself on her creative menu of comfort foods that are made with love. Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.
Flavorz Fish & Chicken | Feed Phoenix Participant
Bringing flavors all the way from St. Louis, owner Chiquila, or “Chi”, carefully recreates generations-old family recipes. The philosophy behind Chi’s food is to treat everyone like family and to make food with love and compassion. She welcomes everyone to her restaurant to experience mouthwatering delectables. If deep-fried catfish, baked macaroni and cheese, topped off with cream cheese pound cake sounds like your thing, be sure to check out Flavorz Fish & Chicken.
Sweets by Deb | We Rise Graduate
Debra Johnson owner of Sweets by Deb is a Phoenix-based food business that specializes in chocolate covered strawberries and other sweet treats. Follow Sweets by Deb on their facebook page to follow their journey.
Pam's Snacks | We Rise Graduate
Pam’s Snacks brings gourmet, dietary conscious, and delicious cookies to Phoenix. After learning to bake from her aunt in the late 1960s, Pam started making her homemade desserts and sharing them with her friends, family, and coworkers who encouraged her to start Pam’s Snacks! Find her at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market or order her delicious cookies on her website.
Vintage Oats | We Rise Graduate & Business in our Community Kitchen Incubator
When Ciara, the CEO of Vintage Oats, started her business, she set out on a mission to create extraordinary granola with the finest and freshest ingredients, and that she did! Six years later, Vintage Oats is still bringing unique and classic granola flavors like mango chile lime and classic cinnamon to Phoenix and fans across the U.S. It’s one of a kind granola made fresh with love! Follow her on social media to stay updated on what farmers markets Vintage Oats is at or order online on their website.
Pure Juice N' Joy | We Rise Graduate
Shana Harrington, owner of Pure Juice N’ Joy, a juice and smoothie bar located in Tempe specializes in organic juices and also offers smoothies, protein shakes, acai bowls, and other delicious and healthy snack options. Learn more here.
Heal With Juice | Business in our Community Kitchen Incubator
Donna started Heal With Juice as a way to supplement her body during treatment for breast cancer. She then decided to build her business on the principle that ‘food is medicine’ and to bring the healing power of juice to the people in the Valley.
She creates a variety of combinations of fresh juice and delivers them straight to your doorstep. Whether you’re looking for a specific juice to help with an ailment or drawn to the specific mantra that she has printed on each juice pouch, Heal With Juice has a juice just for you. Head to her website to order.
Hoyo's Cuisine | We Rise Graduate & Business in our Community Kitchen Incubator
Created in 1980 by Chef Fathia Omar in her home country of Somalia, Hoyo’s Cuisine brings the authentic flavors of East Africa to the West Coast, providing customers with a unique global experience. Whether you’re new to traditional Somali cooking or have experienced it many times, Hoyo’s Cuisine brings cultural stories to life through recipes that have been passed down for generations. They offer full-service catering for weddings, social get-togethers, and many other occasions, so be sure to head to their website to book them for your next event.
GoGo Joes | We Rise Graduate & Business in our Community Kitchen Incubator
GoGo Joes offers tasty food - done in a casual, fun, and laid back way. GoGo Joes dishes are made with LOVE and represent the roots of the owner Joe’s Digg’s family and get togethers they had in Washington D.C. Find GoGo Joe’s at the Pinnacle Peak Farmers Market or head to their website to book them for your next event.
Golden Palm Foods | We Rise Graduate
Arlette Gomez of Golden Palm Foods sells imported food products from West Africa and offers catering services, dishing up West African dishes for events and private parties. Check out their etsy shop here.
List of Arizona Black Farmers and Ranchers
Southwest Black Ranchers | Douglas, AZ
Southwest Black Ranchers is on a mission to produce and distribute healthy food to the community while strengthening the local food supply chain. This Black-owned family farm/ranch, run by James and Rachael Stewart and their four children, is based in Douglas, Arizona. They have been hard at work growing vegetables; raising cows, alpacas, goats, sheep, lamb, pigs, chicken, turkeys, and ducks; and completely reimagining how food is sourced. Their vision is to inspire others to get into the farming/ranching world and to create a food system where local makes sense. Donate here to support the great work they’re doing.
Drinking Gourd Farms | Phoenix, AZ
Drinking Gourd Farms is a community of politically-aligned Black farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders in Arizona who are focused on the physical, mental, and spiritual health of Black people through movement building, agriculture, health and wellness, and environmental stewardship. Contact them on their instagram account @Drinking_Gourd_Farms to learn more.
Golo Organic Family Farms | Litchfield, AZ
Golo Organic Family Farms is run by James and Jawn Golo and was established in 2009 through the International Rescue Committee New Roots program. The program is designed to help refugee families achieve food security, self-sufficiency, and economic empowerment through their agricultural businesses. This husband and wife team, originally from West Africa, now farm on their property in Litchfield, AZ, and are growing organic vegetables year-round. The Golos can be found at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market. Hear their story and follow them on Instagram: @golo.farms
Edenic Gardens/Rodney Machokoto | Phoenix, AZ
Edenic Gardens is a family operation centered around community. When Rodney Machokoto moved to America from Zimbabwe, his home country had been ravished by food insecurity. Rodney met his wife, Daphne, while working on a project to rebuild the country’s deteriorating waste management system. Now settled in Phoenix, the two are farming in South Phoenix and have been instrumental in addressing food security in Maricopa County. Rodney and his wife currently support the Feed Phoenix Initiative (Local First/City of Phoenix) and the Friends of the Farm Program (Arizona Food Bank Network) to grow and provide fresh produce to food-insecure families across Phoenix. You can connect with Rodney on Instagram at @rodney_machokoto
Southwest Mushrooms | Phoenix, AZ
Owner and urban farmer "Mushroom Mike" enjoys sharing the science of growing mushrooms while exploring new ways to use them in culinary cuisine. Southwest Mushrooms provides fresh and dried gourmet mushrooms to top chefs, everyday cooks, and those who enjoy a healthy lifestyle. This urban grow farm is locally owned and operated with its roots firmly planted in Arizona. You can find them at several farmers markets in Phoenix or learn more and order online on their website.
Millbrook Urban Farms | Phoenix, AZ
Angela Brooks, an award-winning businesswoman, entrepreneur, and Certified Master Gardener from UofA. Angelia started a small urban farm in South Mountain where the primary crop is collard and mustard greens along with a variety of herbs, fruits, flowers & veggies. You can follow Angela on Instagram or on Facebook.
Patagonia Flower Farm | Patagonia, AZ
Located in beautiful Santa Cruz County in southern Arizona, Patagonia Flower Farms has been in operation since 2017. Owner Aishah Lurry has a passion for flowers and has been gardening for over 20 years. Patagonia Flower Farm supplies fresh, never imported, seasonal flowers of premium quality created through organic and responsible farming practices. Since quality and vibrancy are the top priorities at the farm, they believe in cutting the flowers right before sale for optimum freshness. By supporting this farm, you also support the local community and help protect the environment. Many other flower businesses rely on imported flowers that increase the carbon footprint left behind, but ordering through from Patagonia Flower Farm means making an informed choice. Your support helps to promote biodiversity, water conservation, and healthy soil. Check out their dazzling arrangements!
Project Roots | Phoenix, AZ
Bridget Pettis and Dionne Washington are co-founders of Project Roots, a non-profit created in 2019. Bridget, a former WNBA Coach and Phoenix Mercury Player, along with AZ native Dionne, strive to support and educate the community around them. They have created different educational programs about gardening and healthy eating; they provide support to unsheltered individuals by supplying hygiene items, clothing, and even shelter; and they operate a mobile kitchen service that provides hot and healthy soups to individuals in need. Aside from their presence in local farmers markets across the Valley, they also provide seasonal produce delivery to neighborhoods in Phoenix. This is all part of Project Roots goal of promoting a healthy, sustainable way of life. To learn more about programs and to show your support go to Project Roots.
Tiger Mountain Foundation | Phoenix, AZ
Darren Chapman is CEO of Tiger Mountain Foundation (TMF), a non-profit organization that manages community gardens targeted to aid communities that show signs of increased incarceration and don’t have access to healthy choices. In order to counteract this kind of challenge, TMF offers multi-ethnic and multi-generational agri-landscaping programs through community garden spaces. TMF imparts knowledge about having a good work ethic, discusses ways of improving financial literacy, and helps individuals gain entrepreneurial knowledge. All of these programs help promote the mission behind Darren’s organization, which aims to empower through building flourishing community gardens, providing job skills, showing support and workforce development by revitalizing and beautifying the community around them. Click the link to learn more about programming or how to volunteer.
ABC Mobile Education Center | Phoenix, AZ
ABC Mobile Education Center (ABCMEC) provides educational workshops for environmental awareness, composting, and beekeeping training, as well as offering garden consultations. Nika Forte’ Sesay is the force behind the ABCMEC and the Heart & Soil People’s Garden. Nika also works with St. Vincent de Paul as the Urban Farm Manager. She engages with the community through events and coordinates volunteers working at the farm while helping to educate, process, and distribute fresh produce to underserved communities. Her goal is to increase food access and decrease food insecurity. Aside from the importance of ensuring communities have access to healthy fruits and vegetables, Nika also understands the importance of financial stability. It is her belief that beekeeping has the potential to be a successful business for those willing to put in the work. Nika is focused on empowering others to learn the skills of beekeeping and to bring more apiaries to urban Phoenix. Learn more about the numerous initiatives of ABCMEC and follow Nika on her journey and the many programs she has brewing.
Diana Gregory Outreach Services | Phoenix, AZ
“Enriching lives through healthy eating” is Diana Gregory’s mission. Since 2009, her 501(c)(3) organization has served more than 50,000 seniors in over 60 affordable and independent living facilities throughout the Greater Phoenix area. As a part of the foundation, Diana also runs Gregory’s Fresh Market, a mobile farmers market, which provides mature Americans, living in senior residential communities, with access to fresh produce. Diana also provides seniors with CSA bags filled with locally-grown produce through the Feed Phoenix program. Follow their Instagram and find out how you can support Diana and her efforts.
While February is Black History Month, show your love for our local Black-owned businesses throughout the year! Follow their journeys on social media and be sure to swing by their restaurant, food truck, or pop-up event to see these rising stars in action. Also, take the time to connect and support the good work our Black farmers are doing to bring fresh healthy food to communities with limited access.