Arizona Farm & Ranch Life: 3 Accounts to Follow
Photo by Date Creek Ranch; Wickenburg, AZ
Few folks are as connected to the changing of the seasons as our farmers, ranchers, foragers, and food people. Fortunately, some of them are incredibly generous writers and share their experiences with us regularly through social media channels. Below are three (of the many) incredible Arizona food producers that we recommend following to get a glimpse of Good Food and farmlife in Arizona.
1. Date Creek Ranch
Wickenburg, Arizona
Savannah Figueroa was born in Flagstaff and grew up in Phoenix. She is 23 years old, and proudly part-owner of Date Creek Ranch. Together with her husband, Ryan Barteau, and his parents, they bring local and sustainably sourced beef to Arizona families like yours. She will tell you that she “was lucky enough to marry into the business,” as Ryan’s family has been ranching in Arizona for 5 generations. Through the years, as with any business, they learned that what they do is much more than just “raising beef”. They focus on soil health and have transitioned to regenerative practices through planned grazing and monitoring.
Follow along Date Creek Ranch’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for a glimpse into the day-to-day: from sleepless nights to counting barn cats in the rafters, Savannah’s insights are a gift to those of us craving a life on the range.
the first few anemones
2. Whipstone Farm
Paulden, Arizona
Shanti and Cory Rade operate their family farm, Whipstone Farm, in Paulden which is about 30 miles north of Prescott. They started selling produce door-to-door in 1995 when their large garden produced more food than their family could eat. They have grown every year since then and now have 15 acres in production, growing over 100 varieties of vegetables and flowers.
From transplanting 10,000 pepper plants to endless weeding and marathon harvest days, Cory and Shanti will tell you they have a great team of the hardest workers around. Their children play a big role in all parts of the farm – equally helpful and distracting – from planting seeds to selling at the farmers market.
Shanti’s weekly e-newsletters are for those of us who crave a connection to the land and want a glimpse of what it’s like to work really, really hard. Her beautiful stories are always accompanied by photos of the week, demonstrating the labor and art of growing the food we love to buy.
3. Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Ajo, Arizona
Recognized by Food Tank as one of 18 organizations working to preserve, restore, and share stories of the region’s natural diversity in the American Southwest, Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture shares every step of their journey.
Sometimes, being a good farmer means driving 3 hours (each way) to the state capitol to speak up for legislation. Other times, staff and volunteers are shoulder-deep in the day’s harvests. You might catch them hosting or presenting at local food conferences, and you’ll definitely see them dishing up food at the Ajo Farmers Market & Cafe.
Someone at Ajo CSA is always working and posting around the clock. We’re grateful for their work, their stewardship of the land and tradition, and that we get to follow along.