Pasquinelli Produce Pairs With Yuma Lettuce Days For Salúd To The Field Workers

YUMA, ARIZONA – New to Yuma Lettuce Days in 2016, Salúd to the Field Workers presented by Pasquinelli Produce will feature a series of presentations and exhibits recognizing the tireless labor of those in the fields through first-hand storytelling.

"We are extremely proud to be partnering with Pasquinelli Produce," said Linda Morgan, Executive Director of Yuma Visitors Bureau. "Having their support in ensuring Salúd is a meaningful and successful part of Yuma Lettuce Days demonstrates the company's commitment to its workers and others in the industry."

Scheduled to take place on Yuma Lettuce Days' second day of festivities (Feb. 28), Salúd to the Field Workers presented by Pasquinelli Produce highlights the importance of field workers in driving Yuma County's multi-billion dollar agricultural industry.

Live presenters will share stories and answer questions about their work, while an art display offers intimate portrayals of the unseen world of those who labor to bring food to the tables of millions across the continent.

"We greatly understand the importance of field workers and their contributions to the success of agriculture in Yuma," said Gary Pasquinelli, owner of Pasquinelli Produce. "Supporting an activity which shares our company's beliefs makes all the sense in the world and we encourage residents and visitors to join us at Yuma Lettuce Days to recognize this community of dedicated, hardworking people."

The partnership between Yuma Visitors Bureau and Pasquinelli Produce comes on the heels of an announcement that Executive Chef Michael Cairns of Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia will headline live cooking demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday of this year's annual event.

Yuma Lettuce Days kicks off on Feb. 27 at the University of Arizona's Yuma Agricultural Center and concludes on Feb. 28 with Salúd to the Field Workers presented by Pasquinelli Produce. Ticketing information coming soon.

Other activities planned for Yuma's homegrown celebration include live cooking demonstrations and contests, a ginormous salad bar and the Recipe Box tasting event on Saturday that showcases specialties from local restaurants, plus beer and wine. Throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of ag-related vendors on hand, live entertainment, and a special Kids Ag-tivities area, along with a petting zoo with baby farm animals. Also on the Lettuce Days menu are farm tours, demonstrations of high-tech farming equipment and methods, a "test planting" of numerous strawberry varieties and a giant flower garden that Yuma's Master Gardeners will utilize for demonstrations.

Put Arizona's freshest destination food event on your calendar now! Sure as Yuma sunshine, there will be a plate full of fun! Plans are still germinating, check for added ingredients at http://www.YumaLettuceDays.com.

The first Yuma Lettuce Days was held on Main Street in historic downtown in 1999. The festival adopted a more culinary flavor and relocated to Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park in 2011. The same year, it received a Governor's Tourism Award as Arizona's best special event in a community of 75,000 or larger. In 2015, Lettuce Days again earned a Governor's Tourism Award, this time in recognition of the partnership with the University of Arizona that transplanted Lettuce Days to the research farm. Yuma Agricultural Center's street address is 6425 W. 8^th St., Yuma, 85364. Per Google maps, the location is just 7.1 miles from Yuma Quartermaster Depot, a drive of less than 15 minutes in normal traffic.