The Gila Farm Coop are part of the International Rescue Committee’s New Roots Farm and Food Security Program, which promotes economic empowerment, household food security and self-sufficiency of refugee and asylee farmers. The process of putting down roots, both literally and figuratively, helps them both integrate into and give back to their community. New Roots Farmers have brought traditional organic farming techniques from their homeland and are blending them with the sustainable farming practices taught by International Rescue Committee’s farm team. The result is an organic and natural system designed to benefit the farmers, their customers, and the surrounding environment. Starting from organically certified seed and natural soil amendments, New Roots farmers are producing healthy, delicious food that has no chemical insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide residue. These farmers may come from different countries but they all have one thing in common: loving the land, the crops, and the people they help feed.

Where We Work and Live: All New Roots Farmers live and farm in the Valley. Almost 30 farmers are leasing land in South Chandler, several have gardens located throughout the city, and some lease land in the outskirts of town in the shadow of the mountains. Fifty-one New Roots farmers have a total of 67 acres actively in production and they are currently working to form a cooperative (Gila Farm Cooperative) that will allow them to make their produce available to more people throughout the valley.