By Janet Cruz

Lake Havasu City area elementary schools will be provided with fresh produce for students and their families, thanks to local nonprofit Havasu Together.

“We will be providing 120 farm bags per month to each elementary school within the Lake Havasu Unified School District,” said Havasu Together President Regan Ross-Robertson. This means that 20 families at each school will enjoy $20 worth of Arizona produce for free January through May, and again August through December.”

In order to make this possible, Havasu Together was awarded a “Purchase local Arizona Grant” in the amount of $28,600 last year to help fund the effort this upcoming year.

“We found out that our application for the grant was approved in November 2024, which means we will have all of 2025 to spend the $28,600 awarded amount,” Robertson said.

Purchase Local Arizona (PLAZ) is a local food purchasing program whose goals are to support Arizona farmers, rancher and food producers that also assist socially disadvantaged groups, and to distribute fresh nutritious foods to underserved communities across Arizona.

Photo Courtesy Regan Ross-Robertson

It is administered by the Arizona Department of Economic Security and funded by USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).

As for Havasu Together, it is a Lake Havasu City 501 C3 nonprofit charitable organization that promotes community growth and enrichment through art and entrepreneurship. The organization also organizes the Lake Havasu Farmers Market, Lake Havasu Youth Market, and Night Markets in town.

According to Robertson, keeping Arizona produce in Arizona is a huge challenge and something Havasu Together is committed to assist with.

“We feel very honored to provide Arizona produce to our community for free. We hope it will expose local families to a healthier option for meals they cook at home as well as produce they might have never tasted before.”

For more information on the effort or the nonprofit Havasu Together, email havasutogether@gmail.com.

Havasu Together local farmers market is now every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The Spring Youth Market is scheduled for April 6, from 9 a.m. to noon, and the Night Market is during First Friday from 6 – 9 p.m.

The Farmers Market now accepts SNAP/EBT, and in February it will start offering coupons for WIC families and senior citizens.

Photo Courtesy Regan Ross-Robertson