Ancient Grains

From the arrival of Spanish missionaries to the present day, Arizona's climate has proved to be ideal for growing superior varieties of wheat, barley, smelt and oats.

- SHERRY MONAHAN

Arizona may have a dry and arid climate, but the pioneers grew a variety of crops, including fruits and grains. Grains were an important commodity during the 1800s and early 1900s. Pioneer grain farmers primarily grew White Sonora wheat, one of the varieties of white wheat in North America. It was carried over by the missionaries in the 1700s and became a very popular variety throughout the Southwest until the early 1900s. As railroads expanded in Arizona, newer varieties of wheat, like Turkey Red and Early Bart replaced the White Sonora, with some claiming its quality was inferior to others being grown in Kansas and Oklahoma.

In the 1870s, grain farmers struggled with keeping their grains from parching in the heat but managed with irrigation. In 1873 P.R. Brady in Florence, reported, "Business dull, mainly on account of poor demand from grain. Farmers all at work; ground dry, there having been no rain for several months past. Mr. B's flouring mill running steadily and making 4,300 lbs. superfine flour every twelve hours. Plenty of water in river for irrigating.