GILBERT — This growing Phoenix suburb is home to many farming areas, with its empty and flat landscapes providing an opportunity to grow crops.
Agritopia was one of the first to plant its roots in Gilbert.
Jordan Burrows puts carrots into a bin after washing the vegetables. Most of the food grown at Agritopia Farms is meant for Farm Box subscriptions or local vendors. Leftover produce is harvested are sold on-site at the farm store.
Now, the farm has turned into a planned community spanning 11 acres nestled south of Loop 202. The community features shops, restaurants and housing alongside farming areas.
Agritopia farmers supply local restaurants with vegetables and fruit year-round, a rare benefit farmers see across the state.
Cool, summer mornings are, “a unique benefit as there aren’t many climates in the world where you can farm all year without any kind of environmental modifications, like greenhouses or shade structures.,  said Kelly Saxer, lead farmer at Agritopia Farm.
The cool, dry climate of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ensures crops all year, although the harvest changes.
Winter might boast lettuce, but in the summer farmers switch to spinach.
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