Phone: 602-469-9400
Sun
Produce Cooperative (SPC) is a multi-stakeholder agricultural and marketing
organization that includes agricultural producers, distributors, buyers and
market specialists.
Its
mission is to create viable alternative distribution streams for Arizona’s
smaller-scale producers, reduce barriers to market entry, gain economies of
scale through its aggregate size, and leverage cooperative branding and
marketing and supply purchasing efforts. The co-op model supports its members
to combine product volume and variety as well as resources and expertise in
order to expand reach into new markets. SPC connects increased consumption of
local food for better over-all individual and community health to farm
viability and economic development.
The
Co-op coordinates farmer-member production, aggregation, and distribution to
increase sales of locally produced fruits and vegetables while expanding access
to healthy in-season foods.
Offering more than 200
locally produced and value-added food items the Co-op solicits orders weekly
for products from more than 50 active customers, including wholesale and retail
outlets, and community-based non-profits, then picks up the produce and other
value-added products that have been ordered, such as honey, frozen processed
poultry, cheese, bread and pastries, dried herbs and spices and eggs, sorts
them into orders and then distributes the orders to customers
