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Index : Miscellaneous Gardening Topics
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- 46. Experience Autumn Harvest in Arizona - Top
- Autumn is harvest season. And what a great time to take the family on an outing to visit one of many farms in Southern Arizona. You can go to pick your own apples, select a pumpkin for Halloween, buy fresh vegetables, cut your own Christmas tree, and take a farm tour.
How do you find out where to go and what to do? It’s simple; just get a copy of the new "Arizona Grown - Farm to Family Directory". Its available at the Pima County Cooperative Extension, public libraries, the Arizona Department of Tourism, and by calling toll-free 1-888-PICKED-4-U (1-888-742-5334).
The publication lists farms in Arizona, by county, which welcome visitors to pick or buy farm fresh products. In the front is an index of products by categories such as: apples and fruits, citrus, vegetables, pumpkins, Christmas trees, and 17 other categories. Under each is listed the names of the farms who sell those products and the county they are located in. Go directly to the county listing and find a printed map and detailed information on each farm in that county who are open to the public. The farms location, telephone number, season and hours open, and detailed list of what’s available to pick and buy are given.
Finally, the publication includes a handy harvest calender. Listed are some 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and the months they are in season.
Arizona is an important producer of farm products. You might be surprised to learn that Arizona is the third largest producer of vegetables and citrus in the United States and ranks:
*second in broccoli, cantaloupes, cauliflower, lemons, head, leaf and romaine lettuce;
*third in production of honeydews, oranges, and tangerines;
*fifth in production of watermelons and; *sixth in grapes.
Arizona Grown fresh fruits and vegetables are available every month of the year. From apples to zucchini, approximately 100 different types and varieties of fruits and vegetables are grown in Arizona including lettuce, carrots, broccoli, dry onions, cauliflower, citrus and potatoes.
The nursery industry is one of the fastest growing segments of Arizona’s agriculture. Arizona’s nursery industry generates annual sales of $662 million and provided 13,000 jobs.
Arizona ranks second in the nation in production of durum wheat, producing 257,000 tons annually. Arizona durum wheats are known worldwide for their superb milling qualities, due largely to Arizona’s warm arid climate.
In cotton production, Arizona ranks second in the nation in pima cotton, ninth in production of upland cotton, and eight in production of cottonseed.
Arizona produces 15,242 acres of pecans and approximately 2,500 acres of pistachios. This equates to 3,781 sacks of unshelled pecans, 835 tons of manufactured pecans, and a dollar value of 5.14 million in pistachios.
Arizona has 118,000 dairy cows, annually producing 2,134 million lbs. of milk. Approximately 5.9 million gallons of ice cream are made from Arizona milk annually; enough for every Arizonan to have one and a half gallons of ice cream to eat for themselves each year.
Arizona cattle ranchers annually raise 830,000 head and send enough beef to supermarkets to feed 4.5 million people yearly, more than the state’s population. We supply enough cattle hides each year to manufacture 17 million pairs of men’s shoes.
Best of all, Arizona farmers are helping to provide Arizonans, and all Americans, with the best food bargain in the world. We spend only 9% of our incomes on groceries. People in other countries spend up to 66% of their income on food.
So, on your next weekend outing, make it a trip to remember! Discover and enjoy of the many and varied farm products that await you in our Arizona countryside.
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Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Daily Star gardening column, on October 4, 1998
- Updated: October 4, 1998
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