WateReuse Arizona Meeting
8211 S 48th St
Phoenix, AZ 85044
USA
Webinar Presentation
Reused Water and Organic Farming
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Register Now
Arizona Section Board Meeting
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Reused Water and Organic Farming
The Roosevelt Irrigation District has been using treated effluent since 1995. It represents a significant portion of the water RID delivers. The customers of the RID have been participating in this process of water recycling to grow corn, wheat, alfalfa, and even onions among others. Recently RID added McClendon Farms as a customer. McClendon Farms is growing organic produce on the campus of the Cancer Treatment Center of America Hospital to support their cafeteria operation. The synergy between the City of Phoenix, RID, McClendon Farms and the Cancer Treatment Center of America is exciting.
Presenters
Donovan L. Neese
Donovan is currently the Superintendent of the Roosevelt Irrigation District. He is a registered professional engineer with consulting experience in construction and design. Donovan has a Masters in Business Administration with an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Colorado River Water Users Association and the United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. He also sits on the board of the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association and is the Vice President of the Agri-business and Water Council of Arizona.
Robert R. McClendon
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Mr. McClendon is a second generation native Arizonan. Bob and his wife purchased their first home located on 2 acres in the northwest valley and with it, Bob’s love for growing citrus and vegetables finally found a home. In 2005, Bob’s then 25 acre property became certified organic and he started selling at Farmers’ Markets at different locations in the valley under the name of McClendon’s Select. His business began to grow rapidly and prominent valley chefs started to buy his fruit and produce for their restaurants. Bob now farms a total of 93 acres in Peoria and Goodyear with his son Sean. McClendon’s Select participates in three large Farmers’ Markets every week and grows for more than 80 restaurants across the state.
Born in Tucson, Arizona, Mr. McClendon is a second generation native Arizonan. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in 1966 and during his college years worked as a lab assistant for the USDA Bee Research Station and as an assistant in the college’s medicinal plant greenhouse.
Bob and his wife purchased their first home located on 2 acres in the northwest valley and with it, Bob’s love for growing citrus and vegetables finally found a home. In 1975 the McClendon’s purchased 10 acres in the Arrowhead ranch area and in 1992 the acreage was expanded to 25 acres. Citrus, Dates, and more than 100 varieties of vegetables were planted on this expanded acreage.
Bob recognized the growing demand for organic fruit and produce and in 2000 started transitioning the 25 acres to organic farming methods. In 2005 this property became certified organic and Bob started selling at Farmers’ Markets at different locations in the valley under the name of McClendon’s Select. His business began to grow rapidly and prominent valley chefs started to buy his fruit and produce for their restaurants. As McClendon’s Select business was expanding, it became clear that he needed more acreage to farm in order to keep up with the demand.
In 2011, Cancer Treatment Centers of America entered into an agricultural lease agreement for McClendon to farm 25 acres located directly behind their hospital in Goodyear, Arizona. Another 43 acres was added in 2014. Bob now farms a total of 93 acres in Peoria and Goodyear with his son Sean. McClendon’s Select participates in three large Farmers’ Markets every week and grows for more than 80 restaurants across the state.