USDA Selects University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service to Support Urban Agriculture Efforts in Phoenix

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 26, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service as one of the key organizations to support its broad effort in urban agriculture, including efforts here in Phoenix. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service and other organizations are supporting new Urban Service Centers and urban county committees, both key to delivering programs to urban producers.

Specifically, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Urban Agriculture Production, Small-Scale and Beginning Farmer Program will provide outreach, education and technical opportunities to citizens of Maricopa County and the state of Arizona, and to establish a customer base for new Urban Service Centers.  These local partners will raise awareness of USDA programs and resources available and help urban producers enroll, which will support increased supply chain resiliency in local food systems by improving the sustainability and long-term viability of urban farms. 

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service is one of 17 organizations selected for this effort.

“Our Program can only achieve its missions and goals with the support and collaboration with USDA-FSA and NRCS to equip beginning, small-scale and other historically underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers in urban environments with knowledge and services to ensure success of their operations in Phoenix, Maricopa County and the state of Arizona,” said Ayman Mostafa, Leader of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Urban Agriculture Production, Small-Scale and Beginning Farmer Program.

In these efforts, Arizona USDA-FSA, the City of Phoenix and Local First Arizona are partnering with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Urban Agriculture Production, Small-Scale and Beginning Farmer Program to equip beginning, small-scale and other underserved growers in urban environments with knowledge and services to help sustain their operations in Phoenix, Maricopa County and Arizona.

Supporting USDA Investments

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service will help support USDA's newly announced Urban Service Center as well as the urban county committee in Phoenix.

The new Urban Service Center in Phoenix will be staffed by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees and will offer farm loan, conservation, disaster assistance and risk management programs. FSA and NRCS works with agricultural producers through a network of more than 2,300 Service Centers nationwide, and the new Urban Service Centers will strengthen services to urban agricultural producers.  

The new USDA Urban Service Center is also home to an urban county committee, which helps with the local administration of FSA programs. 

“Providing urban producers with the same level of support as all farmers and ranchers is key to equitable USDA assistance,” said FSA State Executive Director Ginger Torres, “We look forward to welcoming producers in Arizona to our new Urban Service Centers and to serve on Urban County Committees.” 

“Every producer deserves USDA support in their own community, whether that community is urban or rural,” said Keisha Tatum, NRCS State Conservationist in Arizona, “We encourage people in urban communities to connect with us at our new Urban Service Centers.”    

To learn more about USDA’s Urban Service Centers, download our fact sheet or visit our Urban Service Center webpage.  To learn more about county committees. Visit farmers.gov/urban for more information on programs and services for urban producers.