Arizona Fresh has announced the renovation of what was once a landfill in the south of Phoenix to a food innovation center. The former Del Rio dump site will serve as the location of the 140-acre development. Between 7th and 16th streets on Elmwood Street, it is located.
The estimated time for completion of the construction, which started on Tuesday, is more than five years. A community park, an indoor farmer’s market, a wholesale produce distribution center, and facilities for food and agricultural research will all be a part of the multi-phase project.
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The food desert that exists in this area of Phoenix will be removed, he stressed, thanks to Arizona Fresh. The life expectancy in the neighborhood is 10 to 14 years lower than in other areas of the Phoenix area. It is in part because there aren’t many fresh and healthy food options nearby.
Commentary on the Arizona Fresh food innovation center
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego also spoke about Arizona Fresh’s economic advantages. The construction is a component of Rio Reimagined, a plan put out by the late U.S. Senator John McCain to rehabilitate several kilometers of the Salt and Gila rivers.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Phoenix Councilman Carlos Garcia said, “We’re literally going to turn a landfill, or land that you’re standing on right now that is deemed unusable, into something that’s going to produce images, that’s going to bring food, that’s going to allow our communities to come together and support each other.”
The project, according to Mayor Gallego, “will bring 1,500 good green employment to the city of Phoenix and help us lead the path for the future of food solutions in our community.” The city also anticipates an annual economic output of $848 million.
