Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – On Tuesday’s Home Grown report, we highlight how Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared November as Leafy Greens Month, and what this means for the state.
This is meant to showcase the start of the start of harvest season for lettuce and other leafy greens across the state.
“We want nothing but the best produce and safe product out there for you,” said Amigos Farms food safety director Valentin Sierra.
It’s also meant to highlight the state’s commitment to agriculture and food safety.
According to the Arizona Leafy Greens website, Arizona farmers contribute 25% of the nation’s leafy greens.
“We’re feeding schools, we’re feeding restaurants, we’re feeding you as a consumer,” Sierra says.
He explains how beneficial it is to have so much of the state’s focus on agriculture.
“Oh it’s great. I mean, it helps us out as growers. We get the word out to the public on food safety, on what we do as growers to produce safe and good food for eating,” he explains.
Meanwhile, Mike Pasquinelli, a local grower says it just shows how serious agriculture takes producing safe, healthy food.
“It helps show the dedication that we have in the state of Arizona to providing safe leafy greens to our country and as an export,” Pasquinelli says.
Sierra shares how even locals can help keep our local produce safe, especially for pet owners.
“They walk their animals out in the fields, in the ranches, just keeping them out would be a big help, and we also irrigate through canals, open canals, so keeping your animals out of the canals is also be great,” Sierra said.
The Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement also says that this farming contributes $2 billion each year to Arizona’s economy.
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