GRIC’s role in drought negotiations marks turning point for inclusion, experts say

From crop selection to leveling the fields, Terry Button says the first line of defense against drought starts by conserving water on the farm./Agredano, Cronkite News

Sprouting through the cracked floor of the Sonoran Desert, tepary beans thrive in the dry heat and carry with it centuries of resilience from the indigenous Pima people of southern Arizona.

“We have our water. It’s our life. It’s our livelihood, and it’s our culture,” said Ramona Button, owner of Ramona Farms.

Ramona Button and her husband, Terry, have been farming traditional native foods on the Gila River Indian Community for more than 40 years, including the tepary bean, a staple of native dishes for centuries.

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