Bob Sotomayer and Phyllis Valenzuela
Tomasina Comacho
Ron and Vicki Sullivan
A short ride north of Quail Creek just off Interstate 19 at exit 92 is the Tohono O’odham Cooperative Farm, also known as The Farm. Committed to healthy farming practices, The Farm produces chemical-free traditional crops such as tepary beans, squash, peas, chllies, mesquite flour and devil’s claw used in basket weaving. Growing traditional plants is just part of their story. Experimentation and innovation are where the real story lies.
Established in 1971, The Farm is managed and operated by the San Xavier Cooperative Association. The land was originally the farmlands of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Three key people at the Co-op are Bob Sotomayor, Phyllis Valenzuela and Tomasina Comacho. In addition to their many other co-op responsibilities, Bob and Phyllis also serve as tour hosts and guides. Tomasina is busy tending to the nursery.
Bob’s enthusiasm is measured in productivity and creativity. Listening to his description of lemon grass grown and used to flavor tea or the passion of tasting Sweet and Wonderful varieties of pomegranates makes your mouth water. His description of growing and eating Kuri squash prompts the listener to wonder, “How can I grow this in my community garden?”
When Chef Phyllis isn’t hosting tours, she can be found in the Co-op’s experimental kitchen baking and whipping up traditional recipes served at the San Xavier Mission School and the local Head Start and middle school. Next to the store and kitchen is the mesquite flour mill. Phyllis also oversees the hammer mill, an industrial mill used for making the flour.
Tomasina manages the nursery. She maintains the c variety of crops, including dozens of different peppers, tomatoes, mint, melons, asparagus, okra, eggplant, onions, sage, rosemary, chives, lemongrass and stevia. The orchard includes apple, peach, nectarine, pear, plums, pomegranates and fig trees.
The tour consists of three parts: the store and dry goods processing centre, nursery and greenhouse area and an indoor presentation on Tohono O’odham traditional foods. Tours of the Co-op are by appointment. For more inforemtion contact www.sanxaviercoop.org.