Winter Lettuce Harvest

Yuma County is the nation's third largest vegetable producer! With rich soil, water access and more than 350 days of sunshine a year, Yuma's produce... more

by Robert Bales

Title

Winter Lettuce Harvest

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

Yuma County is the nation's third largest vegetable producer! With rich soil, water access and more than 350 days of sunshine a year, Yuma's produce feeds households nationwide. After the notorious summer heat, the temperature drops just enough to create the country's longest growing season. Yuma County is the winter lettuce capital of the world, supplying a whopping 90% of the nation's leafy vegetables between November and March.

All in all, the area produces more than 175 different crops and seeds. Something interesting is always growing in the 230,000 acres of agricultural land. Much of the area is dedicated to lettuce. Up to 50,000 acres each of head lettuce and romaine are cultivated each year. According to 2008-2009 agricultural statistics, the Yuma area also grows about 12,000 acres of broccoli, 3,500 acres of cauliflower, 6,800 acres of spinach and 3,000 acres of other vegetables. Orchards and vast melon patches stretch across the landscape. Not only is Yuma County Arizona's top producer of lemons, tangelos, and tangerines, it is also tops for watermelon and cantaloupe cultivation.

Uploaded

December 5th, 2012