Southern Arizona farmers are facing new hurdles after federal budget cuts slashed millions from programs that once supported local agriculture.

The issue took center stage this week at the Good Food Forum, hosted by Local First Arizona at El Conquistador in Oro Valley.

The annual event brings together farmers, chefs, advocates and lenders to discuss how to strengthen Arizonas food systems.

If we want to look at the future of being resilient as a state, as a community, local and regional food systems need to be built up, said Patty Emmert, Director of Resilient Food Systems for Local First Arizona. Thats whats going to diversify, to challenges that our producers are now navigating, like weather events.

Emmert advocates for prioritizing native, weather-resistant foods in order to create

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