Ag Trends

While much of the nation is in hibernation and closing shop for the winter months, the southwest corner of Arizona is glowing with sunshine and producing abundant leafy greens. Known as the Winter Lettuce Capital of the World, Yuma County is a lush, green jewel in the Arizona desert, just miles from the Mexico border. Its position along the once wild Colorado River provides rich, fertile soil, perfect for growing over 175 crops year-round. Yuma and its neighbor, Imperial County, California, provide over ninety percent of all leafy vegetables to the United States from November to March.

Long-time community members Mary Campbell and daughter Kelly Miller smile as they think about their hometown. “It is known as the Sunniest Place on Earth, and I feel because of that, it brings out a lot of kindness in people,” says Kelly. “Everyone soaks in the vitamin D, and it radiates.”

Mary is general manager of Griffin Family Farms, a winter vegetable, alfalfa, wheat and Medjool date operation in Somerton, a small town in Yuma County. During the winter months, the operation juggles the production of many different lettuces, celery, then broccoli and cauliflower – while also managing the date trees, which are a time-intensive crop, even after their fall harvest. Mary works alongside many of her family members, including Kelly, who is the director of food safety for the farm.

Griffin Family Farms began in 1917, when Mary’s grandfather Oscar Griffin and his wife Agnes moved from Texas and homesteaded in the lower Yuma Valley. In one year, they doubled the 40 acres they started with into a productive 80-acre farm. They built their family home on the property and gave birth to one son, Marion, Mary’s father. Marion worked on the farm his whole life, expanding it to so much of what it is today. He had six children, all of whom have served the farm in some capacity.

When Marion passed in 2006, Mary left her job as a nurse and returned to the farm, working alongside her siblings and older brother Ray, who was general manager at the time. Mary leveraged her strong science background and focused on the evolving food safety regulations for leafy green growers and soon assumed the role of chief administrative officer. A fourth generation joined when Kelly left her career in education to join the operation, along with Ray's son, Curtis.

Mary inspects a cauliflower field

Devastatingly, in August 2023, Ray passed away unexpectedly and suddenly left a huge void in the family and on the farm.

“Everybody loved Ray,” says Mary. “He was the embodiment of our family values. He was a shining example of what we learned early from our parents about respect, honesty, loyalty, hard work, and what makes a great family.”

The shocking loss came as the Griffin family was starting the new season for leafy greens and winter vegetables. Mary assumed the role of general manager and the family divvied up the many roles that Ray handled.

“Fortunately, we're a tight family and a tight community, and everyone has stepped up to the plate and taken on a lot of responsibilities and we're moving forward well,” reflects Mary. “It brings tears to my eyes thinking about how supportive everyone has been to us.”

The phrase ‘you reap what you sow’ is apt in describing the way the community came together to support Mary, Kelly and the Griffin Family, and a testament to the tremendous amount of volunteer time the family has prioritized in their everyday lives. To them, stewardship is inherent to who they are and part of the DNA and mission of Griffin Family Farms. “My mom has been a role model for showing the importance of giving back and making that a part of your life,” says Kelly. “It is something we enjoy doing and want to continue to do.”

Currently, Mary serves on the Yuma County Historical Society Board and is co-spearheading the development of an open-air ag museum in town. Kelly is also the board chair for the Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma, which connects community donors to local non-profits.

The Griffin family also started the University of Arizona Marion F. Griffin Memorial Agriculture Scholarship, in honor of Mary’s father. The scholarship is awarded to students in Yuma County who plan to major in agriculture and attend the University of Arizona. Over $400,000 has been awarded to aspiring agriculture students since the scholarship was established, many of whom have graduated and returned to Yuma to start their careers.

Not only do Kelly and Mary focus their energy on giving back to Yuma, they are always thinking about the broader agricultural industry. Mary and Kelly prioritize involvement in industry associations and advocating on behalf of agriculture concerning issues like water, labor and food safety. The pair have traveled to Washington, D.C., with the United Fresh Produce Association and are involved in the Yuma Safe Produce Council, the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association and Yuma County Water Users Association Council. Through this work, they are sharing the needs of their community and industry with legislative leaders and working collaboratively to develop new policies and elevate voices of farmers in Arizona.

“We really believe that it’s not just about your operation, it’s about the industry as a whole,” says Kelly. When asked how they balance time for the farm and their immense volunteer commitments, Mary says it is important to ensure your volunteer time aligns with the values of your operation. “These organizations and non-profits highlight a lot of the Griffin Family values. Finding that perfect match is nice. There's so much more to this world than just our farm – we're just a little part of the big picture.”

Mary and Kelly are continuously thinking about the legacy they want to leave for the next generation at Griffin Family Farms. They’re investing their time to stay current with scientific research educational opportunities and training, as well as their financial investment in new equipment and technology to ensure the operation is evolving, staying efficient and remaining relevant into the future. And they’re imparting the same wisdom and core values that Griffin Family Farms has held for over a century.

Kelly’s two daughters – including her eldest, Mary, named after her mother – are part of the fifth generation of Griffin family members, and Kelly hopes to impart the same lessons she learned from her mom: giving back should be a part of life.

“I’ve learned that when you get involved in organizations, you're meeting people outside of your circle,” says Kelly. “When you do that, you learn that everyone has needs and you have a better perspective on what's going on and how you can help others.”

“I just have to keep remembering that it's not about me, it's about the family and the farm, and our community,” echoes Mary. “We’re so blessed to be able to be a part of agriculture. It's such a special industry with such amazing people.”