Ever drive through a small town in the middle of the desert and wonder what in the hell people do there for a living and for fun? Find out on this episode that originates from the Stanford Inn and Cafe in Salome, Arizona. Founded in 1904, the town has a rich history of ranching and turning parched desert into fertile farmland for a myriad of crops including alfalfa.
But alfalfa requires a lot of water to grow it, and a Saudi Arabian-based corporation is pumping unlimited amounts of precious underground water to grow its own alfalfa on leased and private farms, then shipping it back to Saudi Arabia. Why? Because it's illegal to grow alfalfa in the kingdom where there's way more oil than water.
Local aren't happy about it, but a Salome-based civil engineer reveals some startling facts about Arizona water rights, alfalfa as a cash crop, the cost of land leases, and the fact that what the Saudi's are doing is pretty much business as usual in this part of the western U.S.
You'll also learn about daily life in this desert community that receives visitors from all over the world, and from all walks of life--including up and coming country music recording artist, Johnny Young ("Outlaw").
Show notes:
Stanford Inn, Cafe and Bar
67600 E. Highway 60
Salome, AZ 85348
Owner: Alexa Cox
Facebook: Stanford Inn Bar/Cafe
Saudi Arabian Corp:
Fondomonte Arizona, LLC
250 N. Litchfield Rd.
Goodyear, AZ 85338
623-322-5148