How Saffron, a Precious Import, Became an American Cash Crop
- torrey7
- Jan 1
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 15
It’ s hard work to harvest, but a growing cadre of small farmers and home gardeners are cultivating the spice for profit, or simply pleasure.
By Jane Black Published January 2025 • New York Times
Tara and Chad Philipp had never tasted saffron until they took a camping trip with a family they’d recently met. Around the campfire, their new friends cooked a big pan of paella. The Philipps fell for the sweet, musky flavor of saffron — and were intrigued to learn it was the world’s most expensive spice.
On the way home, Mr . Philipp was already researching how to grow saffron on
their three-acre plot in the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles. His wife was keen to build a new business so he could stop driving a truck and spend more time at home with their children.