Meeting The Criteria
These organizations may help you meet the Tucson City of Gastronomy Restaurant Certification criteria
LOCAL SOURCING
Farms
Farm on the Gila Indian Reservation which sells traditional ingredients like tepary bean, heirloom corn, and other traditional crops wholesale.
An organic certified farm in Marana, Az growing heirloom wheat varieties like White Sonora Wheat as whole wheat berries or fresh milled flour.
A pasture raised poultry farm in Benson, Az raising a variety of birds from chickens and ducks, to geese and guinea hens.
An aquaponics farm in the heart of Tucson, Az delivering fresh greens and herbs direct to restaurants.
E & R raises heritage pigs with non-GMO feed on their farm just south of Tucson, Az. All of their animals are USDA processed at the UA meat lab and USDA certified.
The San Xavier Co-op Farm sells foraged dry goods like cholla buds and mesquite flour as well as certified naturally grown produce like the Tohono O’odham yellow meat watermelon.
Southwind Farm in Benson, Az grows certified naturally grown vegetables and operates almost entirely off solar power! Delivery direct to restaurants
An ADA Grade A Certified goats milk dairy just east of Tucson in Pomerene, Az specializing in soft goat cheeses.
A non-GMO cows milk dairy in Elfrida, Az specializing in raw whole milk and cream.
Local Distributors / Aggregators
Pivot delivers exclusively local organic produce sourced from over 25 farms in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico direct to Tucson restaurants.
Forbes Meat Company sources and processes quality pork, beef, poultry and more from ranchers across Arizona with delivery to restaurants.
Iskashitaa gleans hundred of thousands of pounds of citrus, dates, gourds and much more from farms and back yards throughout southern Arizona.
An Arizona statewide broad-line distributor hosting local items under their “Arizona Grown” line.
Farm Advocacy
The Community Food Bank supports southern Arizona farms through grants, micro loans, and institutional sales help.
Southern Arizona Young Farmers and Ranchers Coalition, a Chapter of National Young Farmers Coalition, is a network of people who grow plants and animals for food and fiber in arid-land environments using traditional, indigenous, and innovative practices.
An integrated, regional, secure food system that is environmentally sound, supports farmers, fosters economic development and expands access to healthy food for all including low income people and children in Pima County.
Agriculture Based Non-Profits
TYLO is a grassroots organization, based out of South Tucson, Arizona, that promotes the ideals of equity, justice, and self-determination
The Flowers and Bullets Collective are organizers creating outlets for underserved youth and communities at their Midtown Farm in Tucson, Az
A youth group working to build, nurture and empower youth to be todays leaders Nogales, Az
HERITAGE FOODS CONSERVATION
Ajo CSA works to provide agricultural education, reduce barriers to healthy and culturally-appropriate foods, preserve and revitalize agricultural traditions, foster local, food-based economic development and establish valuable partnerships in Ajo, Az
Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) is a nonprofit seed conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona with a mission to conserve and promote the arid-adapted crop diversity of the Southwest in support of sustainable farming and food security.
The San Xavier Cooperative Association is committed to healthy farming practices and growing traditional crops to support the cultural and environmental values, as well as support economic development within the community.
Farm on the Gila Indian Reservation which sells traditional ingredients like tepary bean, heirloom corn, and other traditional crops wholesale.
Mission Garden is a living agricultural museum of Sonoran Desert-adapted heritage fruit-trees, traditional local heirloom crops and edible native plants.
Foodservice Employee Support
Café 54, a program of Coyote TaskForce, is a unique employment-training program for adults recovering from mental illnesses. Café trainees receive on-the-job training as cooks, pastry chefs, cashiers, and dishwashers.
Caridad Community Kitchen is built on the principle that hunger in our community can be solved in many ways. They offer a community meal program for the hungry and homeless in our community, as well as a culinary and job skills training program for low-income or unemployed individuals.
Culinary training certificate and associates degree program offered by Pima Community College.
GAP Kitchen Culinary Training Program is open to the young adults at GAP who are preparing to age out of the foster care system.
ADDRESSING food Insecurity
Providing provide emergency food to children, seniors, families, and individuals across southern Arizona.
The goal of the UA Campus Pantry is to reduce food insecurity in our Wildcat Community. At our distribution events, students and staff can grab important food staples at no cost.
Casa Maria is an entirely volunteer run soup kitchen serving a free breakfast/lunch every day of the year.
A collective of individuals who believe food should be free serving a free meals several times a week in Tucson parks.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Sustainable Kitchen Solutions
Filta offers deep fryer oil filtration and recycling, humidity control for cold storage, and organic drain services.
Local First Arizona is passionate about sustainability, whether it be economic or environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability goes hand in hand with economic sustainability in ensuring that our communities can look forward to prosperous futures for all of their citizens.
TFS is a worker owned solar design and installation company in Tucson.
Food Waste Diversion
The City of Tucson's FoodCycle Program is a full-service composting program operated by Environmental Services in partnership with the University of Arizona Compost Cats and the San Xavier Co-op Farm.
The University of Arizona Compost Cats is a student-operated program that works to divert food waste, manure and other organic materials from local landfills and transforms them into high-quality compost for local agriculture and landscaping use.
Tank’s Green Stuff is a locally produced organic compost product made from landscape trimmings (green waste) that would otherwise go to the landfill.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is an economic development organization dedicated to the economic prosperity of Pima County and the great regional economies in which Pima County economy exists.
Local First Arizona is a nonprofit organization that celebrates independent, locally owned businesses.
Arizona’s largest most comprehensive and accessible statewide source of assistance for small businesses in every stage of development.