Remote video URL
Article

Rep. Greg Stanton honors SVdP's Mesa Urban Farm

The Congressman presented a Congressional Commendation to the Mesa Urban Farm team in celebration of a decade of community impact

By Bruce Cooper and Chris Peterson

On April 9, Congressman Greg Stanton presented a Congressional Commendation to St. Vincent de Paul in recognition of the 10-year anniversary of its Mesa Urban Farm. The honor celebrates a decade of impact through the farm, which is one of three urban farms operated by SVdP.

The Mesa Urban Farm harvests over 500 pounds of produce monthly. It helped contribute to the harvesting of more than 26,000 pounds of fresh produce from all SVdP farms in 2025, supplementing meals and food boxes distributed to individuals and families in need across the community.

"I've been involved in local government and politics for a long period of time, and one thing I have learned is when St. Vincent de Paul asks you to come to something, you'd better come because something good is going to happen," Congressman Stanton said. "It's a beautiful garden — incredible! What we really want to do is thank the people. SVdP is about people. The people who benefit from the services at SVdP and the people who volunteer to make the magic happen."

Mary Ann Ricketts was present to accept the award as the founder of the Mesa Urban Farm.

"I humbly accept this award on behalf of literally thousands of volunteers who have helped us build this garden of Eden, in a food desert, in an industrialized area of Mesa, over the past 11 years," Mary Ann said.

SVdP's Mesa Urban Farm sits just south of downtown Mesa, connected to the SVdP Mesa Dining Room which serves lunch to the community's most vulnerable. The farm is unique in its ability to also harvest tropical fruits and vegetables, such as persimmons, bananas, and papayas. 

"What's most extraordinary about this place is the things they get to grow here in the desert. Fruits and produce that are huge and are not supposed to grow in Arizona," said Shannon Clancy, SVdP's Rob and Melani Walton Endowed CEO. "I think that happens because of the expertise and more importantly the love, passion and enthusiasm and taking something that was a dirt lot and just making it happen."

Scroll for more photos of the event...

Congressman Stanton delivers a speech before presenting the commendation.
Congressman Stanton delivers a speech before presenting the commendation.
The Mesa Farm volunteers and staff pose with Congressman Stanton and the commendation.
The staff and volunteers of SVdP's Mesa Farm pose for a photo with Congressman Stanton and the commendation.
SVdP Rob and Melani Walton Endowed CEO Shannon Clancy gives a speech before the pressentation of the commendation.
SVdP Rob and Melani Walton Endowed CEO Shannon Clancy gives a speech before the pressentation of the commendation.
Congressman Stanton serves guests in the Mesa Dining Room.
Congressman Stanton serves guests in the Mesa Dining Room.

Want to help the mission?

Donating keeps the gardens growing and our guests fed.

Recent Articles