Arizona’s low desert and the adjoining California region are “greening up,” thanks to the transition of the U.S. leafy green crop from Salinas and elsewhere.

The annual green-up happens each year after Labor Day as desert farmers transition from their summer forage crops and cotton. It coincides with the time of year when those of us who live in the desert begin to enjoy life as temperatures begin to fall and our humidity is blown away by a switch in our prevailing wind.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared November as Arizona Leafy Greens Month, a proclamation that calls on residents to “reflect upon and recognize Arizona’s leafy greens industry.”

According to the proclamation, Arizona produces one-fourth of the nation’s lettuce and leafy greens annually. This has a $2 billion economic impact on the state. From November through April the desert region is said to produce nearly 100% of the U.S. crop.

Yuma, Arizona doubles in population each winter in part because of the shift of vegetable production from California’s Salinas Valley. Each year several large produce companies disassemble production facilities in and around Salinas, and truck that equipment to Yuma, where they rebuild it ahead of first harvest, which tends to happen before Thanksgiving. It’s highly likely that the lettuce you consume between Thanksgiving and April came from the Yuma region or southern California.

Related:The color of green: Arizona kicks off season

Gov. Hobbs’ proclamation rightly recognizes leafy greens production in her state.

A few months ago, Hobbs named former Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture Paul Brierley to be her agricultural department director. Brierley spearheaded efforts over five years ago to stand up the YCEDA program in Yuma through donations by local agricultural companies.

I mention this because of Brierley’s connection with Yuma’s produce industry. How was he involved with the governor’s proclamation? I don’t know. One can surmise that his role in the governor’s cabinet as her chief agricultural advisor may have played a role. Either way, Gov. Hobbs is to be commended for recognizing the leafy greens industry in Arizona.