November 3, 2022 Phoenix, AZ: Arizona’s Governor Ducey has proclaimed November 2022 as Arizona Leafy Greens month. Through this proclamation he called upon all residents to recognize the Arizona leafy greens industry during the month of November for consistently producing an abundance of nutritious and safe leafy greens.
This is the 10th annual celebration and during that time Arizona farmers have produced more than 90 billion servings of lettuce (based on the average production of 9 billion servings per year).
Arizona is known as the winter lettuce capital of the U.S. providing Americans with an abundance of lettuce and leafy greens from November to March.
According to United States Department of Agriculture statistics Arizona farmers grow approximately 25% of the total U.S. lettuce supply each year. The mild desert climate allows for leafy greens farming in Arizona for only five months out of the year, making their contribution to the nation’s lettuce supply substantial in the winter months.
Leafy greens farming in Arizona is big business that involves the work of many family farms. On an annual basis the leafy greens farming community in Arizona generates a $2 billion impact. Perhaps most importantly, Arizona farmers work to protect public health by participating in the LGMA food safety program.
Throughout November, the leafy greens farming community will be celebrating through a variety of social media outreach activities. Food influencers Kristen Carlie, MS, RD of Camelback Nutrition and Megan Crivelli (The Produce Nerd) will help to spread the world about Arizona’s contributions to the food supply.
Farmer influencer Jon Dinsmore will take over Arizona LGMA’s social feeds to help people see the farming aspect of Arizona leafy greens, and Ramiro Ruiz Jr. (Ram628) will help to share his perspective as a harvest machinery mechanic. Arizona LGMA and Yuma Safe Produce Council are also sponsoring contests and giveaways on Instagram and Facebook.
About Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement
Arizona LGMA works to protect public health by cultivating food safety practices, verifying on-farm compliance, utilizing data for improvement and empowering industry with tools to advance food safety. www.arizonaleafygreens.org
Contact: April Ward
Phone: 916-947-0751
Email: april@harvestmoon.biz
