Home Grown: Agritourism combines two of Yuma’s economic driving forces

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - In today's Home Grown, two of Yuma's biggest economic contributions have merged into one: agriculture and tourism.

Visit Yuma has decided to call it agritourism.

There are many opportunities in Yuma County to tour farms and even help pick vegetables firsthand.

Each year, there are several events where visitors can learn about Yuma's agriculture, harvest crops and eat dinner right on the farm with locally grown vegetables.

"Being that we are the winter lettuce capital of the United States and we do produce 93% of those vegetables, agritourism is huge and people always want to come and see what we're doing and what it's about," said Amber Scarcella, brand manager of Visit Yuma. "So, agritourism really is just a way for people to come in, connect with the local farmers and the community and really kind of get their hands dirty."

Some of the ag companies that do the tours include Imperial Date Gardens, Dinsmore Farms, Martha's Gardens Date Farm and more.

The Field to Feast event and the Date Night Dinner on a date farm are the most popular events of the year.

The Field to Feast event includes a dinner fresh from the garden and prepared by culinary students from Arizona Western College.

As for the Date Night Dinner, that is prepared by chef Alex Trujillo and set up under the stars on the date farm.