Local Buying Program
Locally-sourced food helps everyone grow together.
Local First Arizona is dedicated to strengthening Arizona’s local food economy from farm to fork. Our Local Buying Program connects food entrepreneurs in our Community Kitchen Incubator Program with Arizona farmers, ranchers and local producers, creating a circular, community-driven marketplace where everyone grows together.
Why This Program Matters
A thriving local food system keeps money in our communities, supports marginalized and small-scale growers, builds long-term food resilience and strengthens the economic stability of budding farmers and entrepreneurs.
Together, we are creating:
Stronger local supply chains
More diverse and accessible farm-fresh ingredients
Culturally-relevant and regionally-adapted foods
Authentic tastes and stories that champion Arizona’s growers and food makers.
For Food Entrepreneurs
Sourcing with Purpose: Local Food, Local Impact
As part of our Community Kitchen Incubator Program, entrepreneurs commit to sourcing at least 25% of their ingredients, supplies, or operational expenses from local vendors, growers and distributors.
Why does it matter? Because buying local helps you:
Get fresher ingredients that reflect the unique tastes of Arizona
Stand out from the crowd by proudly sourcing from local producers
Strengthen your bottom line with simple tools for tracking purchases and costs
Build a reliable supply chain rooted in your own community, not faraway distributors
Our team will support you every step of the way.
We connect you with local suppliers, guide your sourcing decisions, offer menu and recipe support and provide tools to help you track your purchases and operating costs.
Entrepreneurs: Ready to Join the Program?
We’ll help you build local relationships, integrate seasonal ingredients and track your sourcing.
For Local Farmers, Ranchers & Producers
Sell Your Products into a Guaranteed, Localized Market
We are building a sustainable supply chain that increases demand for Arizona-grown and locally-produced food.
Through the Local Buying Program, producers gain:
Consistent, reliable market demand through Local First’s Community Kitchen entrepreneurs
Access to wholesale buyers seeking fresh, local ingredients
Support from Local First in building your farm's marketing capacity
Greater visibility and storytelling opportunities to highlight your work
We work closely with producer partners and aggregators — like Sun Produce Cooperative — to ensure seamless ordering, weekly delivery logistics and clear communication about availability, pack sizes and seasonal crops.
Who Can Participate?
We’re seeking growers, ranchers, food producers and distributors who:
Grow or produce food in Arizona, or
Distribute products sourced directly from Arizona producers
Producers: Want to Sell Through the Program?
We want to hear from you
Together, We Grow Local.
By participating in the Local First’s Local Buying Program, you’re helping create a vibrant, values-based food system: one that keeps financial wealth circulating in Arizona communities and strengthens the future of local food.
If you're a producer, distributor or food entrepreneur ready to make an impact, we welcome you to join us.