Public Invited to Phoenix Food Day, FitPHX Apple Crunch

(Phoenix, Ariz.)  —  The city of Phoenix invites the public to attend this year’s free Phoenix Food Day celebration, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 251 W. Washington St. 

Phoenix Food Day is a celebration of healthy, affordable and sustainably produced food.  It aims to connect the community to inspire one another through gardening, nutrition education and healthy cooking alternatives that result in a better quality of life.

“Food Day is a positive and fun way to show the importance of a sustainable and equitable local food system.  Easy access to healthy food for everyone is a priority we must focus on as a city,” said Vice Mayor Daniel Valenzuela, who will kick off the event.  “It’s also another great example of how FitPHX is working to build partnerships to promote healthy, safe lifestyles.”

Exhibitors, workshops, a Kids Healthy Food Zone and the Food Day Café will offer food samples, gardening tips, games and other resources by local organizations helping to educate the public about the benefits of healthy, sustainable and affordable food.

The public also can join in the FitPHX Apple Crunch at the event.  BlueCross/BlueShield of Arizona and Fresh Express by Discovery Triangle are donating 2,500 apples for the public to crunch at noon to set a record for the most participants in an apple-crunching event in downtown Phoenix.

“I’m happy to lead the apple crunch and promote local sustainable food and give our community the resources and education needed to gain the benefits of healthy eating,” said Councilwoman Kate Gallego, who will lead the apple crunch at noon.

The crunch also will be taking place the same day at several Phoenix Public Library branches and Phoenix afterschool centers.  Everyone is encouraged to host their own apple crunch at home, work or school and share their photos or videos via social media using #fooddayphx.

Devour Phoenix is sponsoring the Food Day Café featuring several restaurants including Urban Beans, St. Francis, Maizie’s Café and Community Cuisine that will offer a variety of ethnic cuisine samples.  Entry into the café is free and visitors can purchase $1 food tickets to taste the food.

New to the event this year is the Kids Healthy Food Zone, featuring games and activities to engage and inspire elementary school students to learn about healthy food, nutrition, gardening and vermicomposting. 

Attendees will gain valuable knowledge by participating in the Food Day workshops sponsored by the Maricopa County Food System Coalition.  Informative, 30-minute presentations will be held in the City Council Chambers on aquaponics (raising fish and growing plants in the same system), urban farming, nutrition, the Good Food Finder resource, edible landscaping and ending hunger.  Recognized local experts, Greg Peterson and Dr. George Brooks Jr., will lead two of the workshops.

Exhibitors at the event include those showcasing local food products, health-related organizations, farmers markets and the Fresh Express mobile market by Discovery Triangle.  To learn more about Phoenix Food Day and how to host your own apple crunch, visit phoenix.gov/sustainability/foodday.

The event is hosted by the Phoenix Green Team and FitPHX, in partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Local First Arizona, Devour Phoenix, BlueCross/Blue Shield of Arizona, Fresh Express, Maricopa County Food System Coalition, Keep Phoenix Beautiful, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Valley of the Sun United Way, Downtown Phoenix Inc., St. Luke’s Health Initiatives, PHXRenews and Good Food Finder AZ.