Food is one of the most fundamental parts of human life. It is necessary for survival and can connect people and communities. However, amid the demands of everyday life, food can easily become an afterthought. People often rely on the convenience of chain grocery stores or fast-food restaurants, overlooking the nutrients their bodies need.

Eleven years ago, Patsy Stallworth and her daughters, Vanessa Brady and Adriana Clowe, recognized how complicated their relationship with food had become. They began searching for fresh local produce to place on their table.

After gathering their first paper bag of produce, they realized many El Pasoans also wanted to redefine their relationship with food. From that idea, they created the nonprofit Desert Spoon Food Hub and Spoon Flower Grocery.

Located at 1714 Yandell Drive, Spoon Flower Grocery aims to meet El Pasoans where they are. While fresh produce fills the store’s shelves, the nonprofit also asks a larger question: How connected are El Pasoans to local farmers, the food on their tables and the history of that food?

“The knowledge that farmers in our area have is priceless. The idea of losing that because they’re not being supported, we can’t let that happen. That’s why we are here,” said Brady, director of brand management.

Desert Spoon Food Hub now hosts several programs designed to help residents connect with local farmers.

Culinary Spoon is a monthly workshop that gives adults hands-on experience with food. Spoon Flower’s in-house chef, Mateo Herrera, leads the program, which covers topics ranging from fermentation to cooking techniques.

“We talk about all the different ways in which we, as a community, join when we’re eating and talking about food,” Brady said. “This is something that makes us human.”

The program encourages participants to learn more about gardening, where their food comes from and how it affects their bodies. Through gardening and cooking, the Desert Spoon team hopes more people will develop sustainable habits and become active participants in the local food system.

Desert Spoon Food Hub also offers “Taste for Space” in collaboration with El Paso Public Libraries. Through workshops, crafts and puppet shows, children can explore what the organization calls the “food frontier.”

The program reflects Desert Spoon’s focus on helping children build healthy relationships with food.

“The way children see food, it matters,” Brady said. “It’s acknowledging that their food journey might be different for every kid and giving them the space to explore food in a stress-free manner.”

Spoon Flower Grocery also serves as a community gathering space, providing room for organizations and residents to meet. To make fresh food more accessible, the nonprofit participates in Double Up Food Bucks, a program that helps Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients purchase additional fresh fruits and vegetables.

El Paso farmers make the local food system possible. They understand the connection people have with food and the challenges of growing it for others. Brady said El Pasoans are curious and eager to learn more about the people who produce their food.

“When the community is given the chance to know their farmer, they dig it,” Brady said.

That connection is especially important for residents who may have limited access to fresh, nutritious food.

Desert Spoon Food Hub continues to grow as it works to educate El Pasoans about the relationship between food, people and the land. Learning where food comes from can help residents better understand the region’s history and what the community can produce.

“It can’t be just about the food,” Brady said. “It’s about the people who eat it, people who grow it and people who sell it.”