Activate Food Arizona Awarded $450,000 from Mercy C.A.R.E.S.; Grant to Support Farm Express Mobile Markets across Tempe, Phoenix
(PHOENIX – September 8, 2025) – Mercy Care has awarded Activate Food Arizona a 2025 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant in the amount of $450,000. The grant will fund their Farm Express Mobile Market program, a fleet of mobile produce markets that sell high quality, affordable fruits and vegetables in communities with limited access to healthy food. Farm Express, thanks to Mercy Care’s support, has been in operation since 2014, and provides food access opportunities to communities throughout Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. The mobile markets sell food at cost and accept cash, card, SNAP benefits, and Double Up Food Bucks, a two for one incentive program which allows SNAP customers to take home twice as much produce.
“The Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant empowers us to expand our mobile market reach and bring fresh, healthy food directly into communities that need it most. It’s more than just food—it’s about dignity, choice, and addressing the root causes of food insecurity. With this support, we’re able to meet people where they are and help build healthier, more resilient local food systems,” said Elyse Guidas, MPH, executive director of Activate Food Arizona.
Mercy Care, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout 2025, partners with organizations across Arizona that advance health equity and address social risk factors to improve health outcomes. Through grant funding, sponsorships, volunteer efforts and board participation, Mercy Care has invested over $38 million in community reinvestment projects that help manage chronic conditions; support mental health and well-being; address housing security; and empower recovery from substance use.
“Farm Express is making a real difference by bringing healthy, affordable food to neighborhoods that need it most,” said Trisha Stuart, community relations director at Mercy Care. “Just like Activate Food Arizona, we believe access to healthy food isn’t a luxury —it’s a basic need. It’s the foundation of a strong, thriving community — and everyone deserves that.”
Activate Food Arizona’s main goal is to ensure all individuals have the ability to make their own food decisions and to, in turn, build more connected and united communities across Arizona.
“We’ve already served more than 150,000 individuals and families in the state,” said Guidas. “As proud as we are about the difference we’re making, we know there is plenty more work to be done, and we’ll continue to work hard to ensure all Arizonans have equitable access to the food they need.”
To find a calendar of Farm Express stops in the Valley, visit www.farmexpress.org. For more information about Double Up Food Bucks or to find other participating retailers, please visit www.doubleupaz.org.
About Activate Food Arizona
Activate Food Arizona is a 501(c)(3) non-profit “do tank” which develops and deploys innovative community-based food system solutions to improve the lives of all Arizonans. AFA has extensive experience in improving access to healthy, affordable food through cross-sector collaboration and partnerships, most notably via its Farm Express Mobile Market program which launched in 2014. To date, our mobile markets have served more than 120,000 individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the Valley.
About Mercy Care
Mercy Care is a not-for-profit Medicaid managed care health plan, serving AHCCCS members in Arizona since 1985. Mercy Care is a local company sponsored by Dignity Health and Ascension Health. Mercy Care provides access to physical and behavioral health care services for Medicaid-eligible families, children, seniors, and individuals with developmental/cognitive disabilities. Learn more at www.MercyCareAZ.org.
