The Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee and the state of Arizona celebrate Arizona’s lettuce harvest throughout the month of November, marked by a gubernatorial proclamation and messages about the impact that leafy greens vegetables have on our state’s economy.
In recognition of the bountiful harvest generated by Arizona’s abundant lettuce industry, Gov. Jan Brewer has proclaimed the month of November Arizona Leafy Greens Month. The month celebrates the kickoff of Arizona’s leafy greens season, which generally commences around mid-November and goes through March.
As the top producer of leafy greens during the winter months, Arizona’s leafy greens industry employs more than 20,000 and generates an estimated $1 billion in financial impacts to the state’s economy. Nearly 90 percent of the leafy greens lettuce consumed in the United States and Canada between the months of November through March is generated from Arizona.
The Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee is a volunteer consortium comprised of 96 percent of Arizona’s shippers and growers who work collaboratively to ensure uniform safe food handling practices are employed throughout the industry. The group represents various leafy greens products grown in Arizona, demonstrating their commitment to maintain safety of lettuces grown in Arizona from field to fork. More information is available at www.arizonaleafygreens.org.
