Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Ajo Center for Sustainable Agriculture is a non-profit organization, founded in 2008, that is dedicated to development and promotion of a healthy and vibrant local food system in Ajo, Arizona and the surrounding region.
We provide agricultural education, reduce barriers to healthy and culturally-appropriate foods, preserve and revitalize agricultural traditions, foster local, food-based economic development and establish valuable partnerships.
We have numerous agricultural education opportunities for all ages and experience levels. All of our workshops are free of charge and cover a wide array of agriculture topics from business development to sustainable farming practices. We provide agricultural education by way of the
Ajo Gardeners Network
Train-the-trainer
Ag Club
Kids at the Farm
Workshops
Technical Assistance
And more...
We reduce barriers to healthy and culturally-appropriate foods by partnering with public health and nutrition programs such SNAP, Double Up Bucks and WIC at the Ajo Farmers Market and as part of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In addition, we participate in the Ajo Food Bank/Food Pantry and Work-for-Food programs.
We preserve and revitalize the agri-cultural traditions of the region by way of citizen participation crop conservation (Adopt-A-Sonoran-Desert-Crop program) and “Ak Chin” (mouth of the wash) dry-land farming.
We foster community, food-based economic development through our weekly producers-only Ajo Farmers Market, “Growing Our Own” Beginning Growers and Farmer Training program (agricultural internships and apprenticeships) and Micro-business incubators (Market Kitchen, Market Mini-Grants, Incubator Farm). In the Fall of 2018 we will open a farmers market brick and mortar location to start working towards creating a community food center.
We value our partnerships and believe that they are essential in building lasting relationships throughout the community. Our shared understanding and values allow us to make for a collective focus towards lasting progress. Some of our partnerships include the Ajo Regional Food Partnership; Ajo Leadership for Sustainable Communities Cohort: Tohono O’odham Farm and Food Working Group; Arizona Food Systems Network; AmeriCorps VISTA and NCCC; Certified Naturally Grown Network; National Young Farmers Coalition; National Incubator Farm Training Initiative.