A megadrought. An increase in the cost of land. The high price of diesel fuel. Fertilizer doubling in price. An increase in labor costs. This is what Utah farmers face this year. Despite these issues, Thayne Tagge of Tagge’s Famous Fruit and Veggie Farms is hopeful. “We got the water from Pineview (Reservoir) about two days ago (mid-May). It’s looking pretty good, and we’re … [Read more...]
What Would Brigham Young Do?
With a world-class university named after him, along with a rich and sometimes controversial history, Brigham Young’s large legacy lives on in Utah. Brigham Young was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and has aptly been nicknamed “the Mormon Moses.” Young led the Saints from Nauvoo, Illinois where they were being increasingly … [Read more...]
Utah’s Disappearing Farms
Utah's farmers markets are booming, the local food movement is stronger than ever, and local farmers-market farmers are making record profits ― so why are we building over the top of the best remaining farmland in Utah? The simple answer is that the land, in the eyes of our political leaders and developers, has far more economic value as homes and apartments than as farms. … [Read more...]
Easy Bee Farm: Growing Food on Easy Street in Moab Utah
The entrance to Easy Bee Farm, just off Easy Street in Moab, is tucked between thick curtains of growth that make it hard to spot if you haven’t been there before. “That’s part of the adventure,” laughs Rhonda Gotway-Clyde, who owns the farm. Once found, the long gravel drive leads to what does feel a little like a magic kingdom, lush with flowers and vegetables, and … [Read more...]
3 Exceptional Farmers You Will Find at Ogden Farmers Market
Organizing a farmers market is no easy task, but the people in Ogden do it right. Their goal is to “Strive to provide awareness of, and access to, local agriculture while utilizing vendors, musicians, artists, and community partners to create an inclusionary culture of urban arts and community engagement. The Farmers Market Ogden series acts as a community drawing board for … [Read more...]
The High Cost of Cheap Food
In this year’s 10th annual Farm issue, we thought we would consider taking a look back at how much our food landscape has changed here in Utah. My Grandma told me that when she was a little girl growing up in Murray, immigrant Japanese farmers were famous for their amazing produce. Other farmers raised hens for eggs, and others kept pigs or cows. Most of her family’s food … [Read more...]
A Visit to Utah’s Largest Medical Cannabis Farm
Two years ago there were 80 hopeful applicants vying for the coveted “golden ticket” to be one of ten of the official medical cannabis growers for Utah’s medical cannabis program. Only eight were chosen, one provisionally. The capital requirements disqualified 90% of applicants. Indoor-growing using hydroponics disqualified many more. To produce a consistent product, an … [Read more...]
Bulldozing Utah Farms For Vacation Condos: Is this what progress looks like?
Why isn’t food security and the preservation of farms and fertile soil and water an issue in Utah? Fights in Costco and grocery stores over scarce food items during Covid-19 demonstrate that food security and preservation of farms must be a greater concern of Utah political leaders. This past spring we had a small window into what happens when food insecurity and the … [Read more...]
Why Are Beef Prices Skyrocketing? Can Utah Ranchers Survive?
Covid-19 has revealed the huge problem Utah cattle ranchers face due to multinational corps controlling beef processing. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST WATCH THE VIDEO In Utah and the west cattle ranching in our rural areas is one of the most defining characteristics of what most would consider our cultural heritage. But today more than ever, rural Utah ranchers and small towns … [Read more...]
Utah Farmers Adapting to Farmers Market Changes: Getting Creative with Selling Utah Local Goods and Produce
This summer will be Tamera and Randy Hed of Blue Spring Farm’s 19th year at the Downtown Farmers Market, but things are going to look a little differently this year. The typical festival-type atmosphere of the event will be reduced to simply a place to pick up essential foods like locally produced meats, dairy, and produce. There will be no arts and crafts booths, no prepared … [Read more...]