Farmers moving quickly, as warmer temperature persists in Phoenix

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - As the Valley experiences unseasonably warm temperatures during this winter seasons, farmers in the Valley are moving quickly.

As Valley dwellers bask in warm winter temps, crops are doing the same. Frank Martin of Crooked Sky Farms said people at the farm are planting, fast and furious, taking advantage of Mother Nature's decision to skip winter, and go straight to spring.

The farm grows over 100 crops, the kind that make veggie lovers want to pig out.

"All types of root crops, cabbage, cauliflower, mustards, broccoli," said Martin.

There has been little to no frost to slow the plants growth this year, and these crops are loving the heat.

"It does kind of makes everything explode," said Martin. "It doesn't extend the growing season, but it makes everything do really well and it moves fast."

The warmer weather also mean Martin will plant some summer vegetables, like summer squash now, instead of having to wait until March.

The downside of no frost and warm temperatures? Bugs.

"You have more insects that come in earlier, like your aphids that don't normally come in until April," said Martin.

While customers at the farm, which is certified naturally grown, can have anything pulled fresh from the field, much of Crooked Sky's business is to local restaurateurs and farmers markets.

As far as as our warm winter temperatures:

"Because there's nothing you can really do about it, you just have to play the hand you're dealt," said Martin.

How might this change what people see at the grocery stores? Depending on where they get their produce, shoppers might see summer vegetables like squash earlier than usual. Other summer produce like melons could start popping up earlier as well.