Moo-ve over: Arizona farms bring in $4.1B in revenues
Sep 28, 2017, 5:15 AM | Updated: 11:18 am
(Flickr/United Soybean Board)
(Flickr/United Soybean Board)
PHOENIX — Much like the rest of the state’s economy, Arizona’s agricultural engine is roaring along, pumping billions into the pockets of farmers and putting food on the tables of America’s homes.
According to the USDA, Arizona farm revenues amounting to $4.1 billion have propelled the state to sixth on the list of the 11 western states.
According to Julie Murphree with the Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona vegetables are everywhere: “If you’re eating a salad at a restaurant in New York, you most likely got it from a farmer in Yuma.”
Murphree said Arizona farm grown fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry, eggs, and even farm raised fish are feeding hungry diners throughout the northeast, year-round.
“When you think about some of the things we can do in our climate, we’re planting and harvesting 12 months out of the year. And when you look at that figure that just came out from the USDA in terms of our cash receipts, that basically is the value of the value of the crops at the farm gate.”
Murphree said Arizona is a leading producer in vegetables for the Mediterranean, Paleo, and other low-carb, high protein diets, rich in green leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, kale, chard, wines, beef, poultry and even fish—which is raised on farms in Yuma County.
“What’s exciting about food production in Arizona is it’s all about producing it healthy and year round.”
