The City of Phoenix and FUSE are working together to help the Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) close key knowledge gaps in the city’s food system. Even though Phoenix sits in a major agricultural region, much of its food is imported, and there’s little visibility into how food moves through the local supply chain. Extreme heat, water limits, and fast-paced development add pressure, but new development also creates openings to build in urban agriculture, community kitchens, and food retail and distribution hubs. OEP is leading the 2030 Food Action Plan, and two of its central components, the supply chain analysis and the developer incentives evaluation, need dedicated capacity to move forward.
Starting in November 2026, FUSE Executive Fellow Kendra Branham will spend 90 days engaging food producers, processors, distributors, institutions, community groups, city departments, and developers, and will set a work plan with their supervisor. Branham will then trace how food moves through Phoenix from production to waste, identifying gaps and opportunities to expand regenerative and circular practices. At the same time, Branham will interview residential, commercial, and mixed-use developers and research incentives like zoning flexibility, density bonuses, and financial tools. By October 2027, deliverables will include a stakeholder engagement summary, the supply chain analysis, a developer incentives report, prioritized recommendations for the 2030 Food Action Plan, and implementation considerations, with early implementation support only if time allows.
