Arizona agriculture runs on grit, teamwork, and innovation. One shining example of that teamwork is the United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) — a farmer-owned cooperative that’s kept Arizona dairy families thriving since 1960.
WHY IT MATTERS
Farming has always been a tough business, but co-ops give family operations a fighting chance. By joining forces, farmers can:
- Pool resources to market milk and dairy products statewide
- Share transportation, repair, and storage costs
- Access new markets and fairer prices
- Support sustainable, local food production
LOCAL PRIDE
UDA members include family farms across Arizona — like Saddle Mountain Dairy in Maricopa County, a fourth-generation operation that milks thousands of cows and grows its own feed. Families like theirs keep Arizona’s agricultural heritage alive and strong.
A SMARTER WAY FORWARD
Cooperatives don’t just benefit members — they help all of us. UDA dairies have cut water use by 30% and land use by nearly the same, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions by almost 20%. That’s sustainability in action.
BOTTOM LINE
When Arizona farmers work together, we all win — with better food, stronger communities, and a more sustainable future for local agriculture.