Who We Are

John Benedict is a farmer and a champion of small-scale agriculture in rural Arizona. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to McNeal in 2018 and founded his own farm, Desert Sky Produce, in late 2020. Recognizing the significant need for food access, he co-founded The Local Co-op to address issues with the local food system and develop vital local outlets for other small farmers, ranchers, and producers in Cochise County.

John is a key figure in numerous community initiatives and a strong advocate for food systems policy change. He has spearheaded innovative projects like local produce prescription programs, which provide healthy food as a form of medicine, and launched the McNeal food bank to combat local food insecurity. His work also includes the Cochise Mobile Market, which addresses food deserts, and the Cochise Farm to School Program, which connects students with local food and nutritional education.

His efforts have gained wider recognition, leading to his formal appointment to the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Food and Agriculture Policy Advisory Committee (FAPAC) in June of 2025. Through his roles, he uses the co-op's initiatives as models to demonstrate the effectiveness of these programs and to influence policies that support small agriculture and long-term community health. 

In his spare time, John is dedicated to community service, supporting county development initiatives, and offering assistance to local entrepreneurs. 

Meet Jillian, the budding farmer whose passion for cultivating goodness sprouted in 2021. Initially volunteering at the Seven Arrows Recovery community garden, Likha quickly found her green thumb and leased a plot of land to explore row cropping, sharing her bounty at the Bisbee Farmer’s Market. Guided by U of A Cooperative Extension, Jillian embarked on an apprenticeship journey with Arevalos Farm and Desert Sky Produce delving deep into the art and science of farming. Now, after completing her apprenticeship, Likha’s Veggies is gearing up to blossom further, laying the groundwork for a small 2-acre farm.

Meet Saudi of Lutu Muhammad Farm. Lutu Muhammad Farm is a 1st Generation family-owned produce farm focused on growing and all-natural cultivation of lettuce and salad greens, herbs, and grains. Synthetic pesticides are never used on the farm and non-GMO seeds are never planted in their soil. Saudi and his family feel that food should be as pure and clean as The Creator of our universe intended it to be and that food should extend our lives rather than shorten our lifespans.

Meet the family behind our delicious pork and chicken! The Weidenthal Family Farm started off as a small backyard operation in the Spring of 2020 with Pekin Ducks and Jumbo Quail. Since then, the farm has expanded to 20 acres near the San Pedro River in Sierra Vista. Focusing on regenerative agriculture and farming extensively rather than intensively, the Weidenthals have started planting a 2 acre permaculture orchard which will host 220 trees, 880 shrubs, and 2,000 perennial plants plus winecap mushrooms at full capacity. In the rows between the orchard plants, you'll find Pekin and Muscovy ducks as well a New Hampshire, Bresse, and Cornish Cross chickens grazing. Surrounding the orchard you'll find heritage pigs (Gloucestershire Old Spot, Berkshire, and Old Line Duroc crosses) in open spaces clearing out low shrubs for future expansion.

Meet Chase & Lexi of Milagro Farm. Chase is a second-generation farmer, tending to the citrus farm where he was raised. Nesteled in the heart of Oro Valley, Milagro Farm is a small, family-owned oasis dedicated to growing organic citrus and more!

Embraced by the serene expanse of the Sulphur Springs Valley, Shanahan Farms has been rooted in the earth since 2015. The small family farm, situated just outside McNeal, Arizona, is a humble sanctuary of regenerative farming and organic practices. With a small fruit tree orchard, several gardens, and a couple of greenhouses vibrant with life, they are all about nurturing the land, experimenting with dry farming, and cultivating native plants. Alongside their friendly goats and chickens, they celebrate the richness of nature's bounty even in the middle of our sometimes harsh desert landscape.

Meet Brian, the Mexican-American farmer who is proudly upholding the cherished family farming tradition. Teaming up with his cousin Aaron, Brian has embarked on an exciting journey of revitalizing ancestral land and expanding their market gardens. With a focus on hand-worked crops tailored to their growing community of supporters, Brian brings a blend of tradition and innovation to his farming endeavors. As we celebrate the legacy of family and the bounty of the land, we're thrilled to partner with Brian in sharing his passion for fresh, locally grown produce with our community.

Rico & Bridget are dedicated to bringing responsibly caught, top-qualiry Alaskan seafood to Southern Arizona. Ricardo, a Tucson native who manages an artisan fish processing plant in southeast Alaska, oversees the expert handling of the fish from boat to freezer. Bridget, a commercial fisherwoman in Bristol Bay, has been involved in fisheries around Alaska since 2018 and brings her passion for sustainable, wild seafood. 

Meet Aaron, the passionate third-generation Mexican-American farmer from Double Adobe, AZ, whose roots run deep in the rich soil of his ancestral lands. With over a decade of dedication to his craft, Aaron has not only honed his skills but also generously shared his wealth of knowledge with the community. Through partnerships with organizations like u of A Cooperative Extension, Aaron champions organic farming methods, from cover cropping to drip irrigation, nurturing a sustainable future for local agriculture. At Arevalos Farms, renowned for its native TO watermelons and an array of seasonal vegetables, Aaron's commitment to preserving and promoting local agriculture shines through. As a proud participant in our CSA program, we're delighted to offer the bounty of Arevalos Farms to our community, celebrating Aaron's legacy and the vibrant spirit of local farming.

Meet Bobby & Philip, the men behind the mushrooms. Balancing their roles with full-time jobs and families, their journey into the world of mushroom cultivation together began a short time ago. Specializing in varieties like oyster and lion’s mane, to King Trumpets and Enokis, their mission to spread the joy of gourmet mushrooms throughout our local community. Committed to organic methods from spores to substrate, Sunset Mushrooms are cultivated with care and passion.

Meet Anthony, the dynamic young rancher behind Chicken Boy Farms, nestled in the heart of Douglas, Arizona. Drawing upon his rich family heritage and the time-honored traditions of ranching, Anthony embarked on his journey with the support of his church, bringing to life a vision of sustainable farming. Starting with chickens and eggs, Anthony's enterprise has flourished, expanding into the realm of cattle, pigs, and sheep, enriching communities from Douglas to Tucson. We take pride in nurturing and championing local talent like Anthony, as we grow together and support our local community.

Meet Daryl of San Pedro Roasters. While Daryl learned to roast coffee from a friend nearly 20 years ago, his obsession with perfecting this craft started only 5 years ago when he began roasting for friends and family. During this time, he was forced to step into the world of adjusting the parameters of the roast process to create coffees for various pallets. Over the years, he has built several small batch roasters, but about 5 years ago, he began constructing his current 6kg roaster. This has given him the advantage of engineering a roaster from blueprint to completion which optimizes his technique and approach to roasting, setting him apart from other roasters. He sources green beans produced exclusively in the Vocafe Way fair trade practice ensuring the farmers receive a fair market price for their coffee and can operate in environmentally safe conditions free of pesticides. Daryl has also partnered with the Friends of the San Pedro River organization to donate a percentage of proceeds to their cause. His mission is to provide a variety of ethically sourced and locally roasted coffees to Cochise County and the surrounding areas.

The Barnards have been farming and raising cattle in Arizona for over 20 years. In the summer of 2020, they took a chance and bought a Wagyu bull to develop more consistency with our beef. The combination of the Wagyu bull with both their Angus and Charolais cows has turned out to be a beautiful pairing! They raise their American Wagyu on the ranch, bring them to farm to feed/finish them, and feed them our alfalfa, grass hay, and corn that we grow right here on the farm.