GOODYEAR WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER, PAGE 4
westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, January 25, 2017 (623) 535-8439
Litchfield Park city center moves forward
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Development plans at center of mayor’s State of City address by Glenn Gullickson staff writer
SEND IN THE CLOWNS Buckeye Days celebrated over two weekends. See photos from first weekend on Page 10.
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View photo by Ray Thomas
MAYOR TOM SCHOAF explains expenses and reserves as he addresses the community Jan. 21 during Litchfield Park’s State of the City address.
(See City center on Page 2)
W.V. grower distributing strawberries Duncan Family Farms’ organic produce being sold under its own label in Valley by Glenn Gullickson staff writer
A West Valley produce grower is making a name for itself in local grocery aisles with its own branded version of organic strawberries. Duncan Family Farms in Goodyear has been shipping the fruit to Valley stores under its own label for the first time this year, according to Patty Emmert, the company’s specialty crop manager. “Our primary concern is providing the local market with a fantastic strawberry,” she said. Emmert said the Duncan Family Farms’ crop is filling a niche in the market since no other Arizona grower is producing organic strawberries for the local commercial retail market. “We’re seeing a huge demand for our berries,” she said. At this time of year, most strawberries in
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Litchfield Park has completed acquisition of land around City Hall for the development of a project that Mayor Tom Schoaf said will create a “vibrant and upbeat” city center that will help generate tax revenues. The city center project was among several developments discussed during Schoaf’s annual State of the City address on Jan. 21. Schoaf called the project “the most critical thing the council has worked on for several years.” He announced that the deal had closed the previous day for 5.5 acres on the northeast corner of Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard, the last parcel of 24 acres for the project around City Hall. Plans for the development go back to 1996, but owners of the land weren’t interested in selling the vacant property until recently, Schoaf said.
He said the city is working to secure a contract with a project planner and developer, who were selected last year. After the contract is signed, the city will schedule a series of public meetings to gather input from residents, Schoaf said. “It’s critical that it’s something everyone here supports,” he said. The project will add to the quality of life in Litchfield Park by complementing the Wigwam and protect the character of nearby neighborhoods, Schoaf said. He said spending reserve funds was required for purchasing land for the city center, which cost $4.998 million. But he said it’s a good investment because when complete, new businesses should generate tax revenues for the city, which does not have a property tax, he said. Additional tax revenue is important because as Litchfield
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stores come from Mexico, she said. California’s central coast is also a prime area for strawberry production. By growing the strawberries so close to where they are being purchased, Emmert said the berries can be distributed 24 hours after being picked, and sold in stores as quickly as two days after harvesting. “Local distribution allows us to keep the fruit on the vine a little longer, so when you bite into it, you’re tasting a strawberry,” she said. “These things are full of flavor.” The strawberries are being grown on 23 acres in Goodyear. To keep them warm enough, the berries are grown under tunnel structures big enough for farm equipment to move through, Emmert said. She said the berries are expected to be picked (See Strawberries on Page 3)
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View photo by Jordan Christopher
STRAWBERRY Production Consultant Thomas Flewell holds a freshly picked ripe organic strawberry Jan. 11 at Duncan Family Farms in Goodyear. Duncan Family Farms is now distributing its organic berries under its own brand at grocery stores throughout the Valley.
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