South Phoenix and other small and often economically challenged areas have seen no shortage of fast-food or convenience store options for people in the community to grab quick and often costly, unhealthy food options.
They’re called food deserts and according agriculture.az.gov, at least one in six Arizonans face food insecurity, or little to no access to fresh healthy food.
A longtime political debate is the fact that the more economically impoverished areas in the Valley never attract corporate businesses that offer fresh groceries such as a “Whole Foods” —or any fresh produce market for that matter—and one that’s convenient for the community to opt for healthier options.
The options are limited and simply do not offer items such as an organic tomato or a juicy orange.
Las Tres Hermanas is trying to change that.
The market is the next chapter in the Orchard Community Center (Orchard) advocacy for food justice. The Orchard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Arizona Qualifying Charity. Executive Director, John Wann-Ángeles, Board members and volunteers have been working to create a place where community comes together to learn, connect and build healthy habits.
Las Tres Hermanas, The Three Sisters, takes its name from the cornerstone crops of Mesoamerican agriculture: corn, squash, and beans. The name honors Indigenous food traditions and the unwavering role of women in farming and food production.
Wann-Ángeles, a former Valley View Elementary School principal, founded the Orchard to create gathering spaces, provide educational programming for youth, and support environmentally responsible farming frameworks.
The Orchard is rooted in a belief that community members hold rich cultural knowledge and are the greatest resource for addressing systemic challenges.
Ashley Hare, a business consultant and mutual land steward who has worked alongside Wann-Ángeles to develop the market’s business plan, said the store fills a gap that weekly farmers markets struggle to meet.
“There are two communities that need this,” Hare said. “Farmers who need a space to transfer their harvest, and a community looking for healthy, local, organic food. This bridges that gap, and is more accessible than a once-a-week farmers market.”
Hare noted that roughly 70 percent of the produce on shelves comes directly from the Orchard’s farm, with the remainder sourced from partners in the region.
The market is slated to be open three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and is currently pending SNAP-approval. That drew enthusiasm from early visitors who said consistent access matters as much as availability and affordability.
Community members stopped by the opening in a steady stream including Maria Rivera who works in the area at Unlimited Potential.
Rivera was thrilled to be a part of this and said that, “the food is very good, and organic.”
Her co-worker, Cristina Annya added that it’s a bonus because it’s convenient and easy to access.
For the small farmers who have long partnered with the Orchard, Hare said producers who previously relied on co-op box pickups, now have a physical home for their goods.
“Other farmers who’ve been working with the Orchard for years now have a space to put their produce in coolers and have it here three days a week,” she said.
The Orchard Community Learning Center is located at 3146 E. Weir Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85040. More information is available at orchardlearningcenter.org.
