Verde Grown Campaign Celebrates Agricultural Roots of the Verde Valley
Connecting consumers to farms, farmers markets, and food producers crafting products “Proudly Grown in the Verde Valley”
PHOENIX (April 9, 2021) — With a 2,000-year-old agricultural heritage, Arizona’s Verde Valley locals and visitors can now rediscover their roots through the recently launched “Verde Grown” campaign. A local steering committee comprised of regional municipalities, growers, and producers have partnered with Local First Arizona to launch the new Verde Grown brand with an intent to link food connoisseurs to farmers, ranchers, food producers, and restaurants in the Verde Valley, which includes the cities and towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Cornville, and other nearby communities.
“The Verde Valley’s rich natural ecosystem has made it into an agricultural hub for centuries and a wine and food destination today — touted by locals and visitors alike,” says Samantha Zah, Local First Arizona Rural Food & Sustainability Manager. “Through Verde Grown, we want to ensure the local food community is supported year-round, increasing exposure to the regional marketplace, growing sustainably, and building resilience for generations to come,” she added.
Verde Grown is powered by the hard-working growers, makers, and food advocates that remain tethered to its early roots and who want to celebrate the region’s pride in agriculture with all Arizonans. They are stewards to the Verde River, which has nurtured the fruit, vegetables, cattle, pecans, wine, beer, and wool cultivated in the heart of central Arizona.
“Creating the Verde Grown brand has been a dream for the last eight years and is intended to accomplish very important things. First, bring awareness of the wide variety and high quality of agricultural products produced in the Verde Valley. The second is to bring awareness to consumers and producers alike of the value in protecting flows in our rivers and streams, the lifeblood of our rich agricultural history,” says Steve Ayers, Town of Camp Verde Economic Development Director.
Want to discover the Verde Valley? Start with eating locally by supporting these Verde Grown producers: Hauser & Hauser Farms, Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery, Fasteen Farms, Harmony Acres Ranch, Heart Wood Cellars, Southwest Wine Center, Tres Brisas Beef, My Girlfriend’s Garden, Verde Valley Farmers Market, Windmill Park Farmers Market, Salt Mine Wine, Wild Heart Farm, Yavapai College Horticulture Program, Main Street Cafe, and Willow Rose Farms.
The weather is heating up, and some of the best ways to pass the time is eating your way through some of Arizona’s most charming, rural towns — where the freshest food is found.
How Do I Find Out More?
Visit: www.goodfoodfinderaz.com/verdevalley
Official Hashtags: #VerdeGrown #GoodFoodAZ, #LocalFirstAZ
Hosted by: Local First Arizona (@LocalFirstAZ) and Good Food Finder (@GoodFoodAZ)
Check out Local First Arizona’s Eat Local directories of Gila Valley and Superior.
About Local First Arizona
Founded in 2003 by Kimber Lanning, Local First Arizona (LFA) is a community and economic development organization working to strengthen local economies. LFA educates consumers about the interconnectedness of the economy, trains small businesses to be more effective and more competitive, helps larger Arizona businesses and institutions tell their story as champions of Arizona, and creates programs and events that make it fun and easy to discover local businesses and buy local. Visit www.localfirstaz.com for more information and a directory of more than 3,000 locally owned businesses.