Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Cindy Gentry

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Cindy Gentry. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
The most surprising thing I have learned about our customers is how caring and patient they are and how devoted they are to supporting local farms. We make mistakes with delivering orders, or Mother Nature intervenes with a crop harvest. And while our goal is to eliminate at least the human error part of this, things may still happen. Our standard operating procedure is immediate communication with the customer, and almost unfailingly, they are kind in their understanding. (I can only think of a couple of instances where a customer response was a little spicy – and they actually apologized.) Strong relationships are at the heart of our work to expand access to healthy local food, while supporting local farms. We feel fortunate to support and be supported by the customers – those we sell to, and those we buy from.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Established in 2017, Sun Produce Cooperative’s (SPC) mission expands access to healthy local food, particularly for vulnerable households, while enhancing the viability of AZ’s smaller-acreage producers – also largely underserved. SPC is a middle of the supply chain local food aggregator and distributor. In 2024 it provided over 200 varieties / $1.3 million of freshly harvested Arizona grown produce, and locally produced dried beans, flour, honey, eggs, baked goods, pasta, goat cheese yogurt and more to over 70 schools, restaurants, community-based organizations, our farm bag program, and wholesale and retail customers in 8 of Arizona’s 15 counties. SPC currently works with 42 small-acreage farms in central Arizona and buys and sells through partner food hubs in southern and northern AZ. SPC is working to enhance existing coordination among partner food hubs, each located in different AZ growing zones, to streamline year-round access to volume and variety of produce, and year-round distribution for the producers we work with. Additionally, we have applied to USDA to accept Supplemental Nutrition Benefits (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) through our online store – sunproducecoop.localfoodmarketplace, and over the next couple of years, expand into a larger warehouse space, that includes a brick and mortar retail store in order to enhance healthy food access for individual community members. What makes SPC unique is the fact that it is mission-driven, compared to a purely for profit distributor. Its long-term success depends on its ability to maintain an ongoing and delicate balance between advancing its mission and ensuring financial health. This means aligning our social purpose—supporting local farmers, increasing access to healthy food, and strengthening community food systems—with the practical realities of operating in a competitive, resource-limited environment.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My joke is that I am in the 6th year of my 2 year retirement plan. It is time for others to take on the future work of Sun Produce Co-op. And to that end, we are examining each phase of our work – day to day operations, financial outlook, staffing needs, marketing and branding, and the work to grow a resilient local food hub and distribution network in Arizona. I am still working on letting go of this ‘baby’ that I have been raising, along with other key staff and board members. It has lasted these 8 years and is ready to go out into the world as an adult under new leadership!

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Own your power. Being strong doesn’t mean being unkind or ungenerous or denying someone else their strength. It means showing your integrity, standing up to those trying to take away what you have, not hiding away believing you can overcome whatever losses someone or some situation is seemingly trying to inflict on you. I am a big believer in, practitioner in, conflict avoidance. But over the years, have come to own some leadership in the work I have been part of creating – and am learning to stand up for that work, to keep it moving forward.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
People are more important than things! Family, friends and relationships are the reason for the work!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am pretty sure I am doing what I was born to do – I am basically the same person I was when I was 12 years old, looking out for my (little) brothers, feeding people, growing food and sharing it, finding (weird) humor – and sharing it, working to call out and address unfairness – and knowing that there is strength in nurturing those around you, and strength in contributing to a creative, healthy community environment where all can flourish.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sunproducecoop.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunproducecoop/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-gentry-5267734/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunproducecoop

Image Credits
Sun Produce Co-op