These are some of the places you can get good food in the area. There are other sources - for these, you'll need to join and participate in our forums.
This is to make people aware of local resources. Sources may be local stores or independent farmers. Others are chains that have stores here but with products that come from farther away. We receive no money from any of these vendors. We recommend the ones with a good reputation. Please ask about specific animal feed, living conditions, pesticides and post-picking fumigants, water fed to crops or animals, etc.
For more sources, join and ask on our forums.
WAPF SHOPPING GUIDE
Contact April Jolly (480) 577-3307 to get them for $1 (same as WAPF charges)
DAIRY
- Raw cow milk (not licensed for butter or cream) - Save Your Dairy in Queen Creek located at the cross streets of Higley and Riggs road. Save Your Dairy cows are outside, but since there isn't enough land at this time to permit grass grazing, dried grasses like alfalfa are brought to the cows. The owner, Jackie Calamos, is in the process of locating a new piece of land that would be suitable for grazing. Contact Jackie Calamos to find outlets where the raw milk is distributed, 480-575-8499 or 630-986-8412.
- Raw cow cheese from Meadowayne Dairy, Colorado City, AZ. They make a cottage cheese, starting with raw milk, but it has to be heated to a pretty high temperature (so it's really cooked). I wasn't able to find out what the temperature is when I called. Store: 385 N Juniper Ave, Colorado City, AZ 86021; 800-748-4189; 928-875-2568
- Raw goat milk from Fiore di Capra, Pomerene, AZ. As far as is now known, the goat milk is only sold in Tucson right now. Contact them at the following number to see if this changes. P.O. Box 271, Pomerene, AZ 85627; 520-586-2081
- Raw cow butter, cream, cheese, and colostrum can be ordered from Organic Pastures, near Fresno, CA. Some of these products are for pet use only. Recommended to ship frozen; they do use freezer packs. 877-RAW-MILK; 877-729-6455
- Yogurt, cream, creme fraiche, and butter from Trader Joe's (store brand, pasteurized), Straus cream and butter (mostly grass-fed, pasteurized) at Whole Foods, Kerrygold Irish butter (pasteurized, grass-fed) at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, Nancy's Sour Cream (unpasteurized, cows aren't totally pastured, has full-fat cream but contains nonfat dry milk powder)
- Raw cheese can be found at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods (various sources, not all grass-fed).
- Raw cow cheese and pasteurized goat cheese from Arizona Cheese Company, "Purveyors of gourmet farmstead cheese, Chandler, AZ" - not necessarily local cheese, don't know about grass-fed; Willamette Valley (Oregon) raw cheese, at Ahwatukee Farmers' Market and others; contact info: Thomas Hornyan, 480-290-3513
EGGS
Contact
Mr.
DAVID BEVACQUA for fresh eggs. He can be reached at (480) 330-4568. What a nice, down-to-earth guy! Although he lives in Queen Creek, he will often make arrangements to meet you half-way in order to deliver your eggs! Dave is helping his daughter, Sugar to build a little business selling eggs for $2.00 per dozen. They are currently raising and caring for many chickens that are free range and that eat mostly table scraps and bugs from the great outdoors. He and his wife and children live on a farm where they care for many other types of animals as well. There may even be occasions when he could have some duck and/or goose eggs to sell. Also, in addition to selling eggs, Dave also sells trees grown right on his own property for foilage, etc., so if you have a need for beautifying you landscape in that way, then he would be a great resource! If you don't get him right away, just leave a message and he usually gets right back to you.
- Some of the best chicken and goose eggs come from specific vendors at the farmers' markets. The yolks are strong and taste good. Grocery store eggs can't compare, probably due to the age of the egg by the time it gets to us from California or elsewhere, and the feed. It may not be possible to avoid feed with soy, but judge by the health of the chickens and the integrity of the eggs.
- Sometimes people in your neighborhood may have chickens. Check with people on our forum to find an informal network of egg suppliers.
- Check out Campbell Mercantile in Peoria, AZ for eggs
MEAT
- Chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, and pork from A Bar H farm. They make deliveries to our metro area. Contact Anya Owens: Anya@abarhfarm.com; PO Box 66, San Simon, Arizona 85632; 520-904-4389
- Alaskan salmon and other seafoods, New Mexican beef, and local lamb from the Fishhugger, whose family splits year between Phoenix and Albuquerque; Kenny Ashbacher can be found at farmers' markets. info@fishhugger.com; 602-286-9233
- Pork and beef from Jupille Ranch, by mail order. henry@jupille.com; 3868 County Road 22A, Montrose, CO 81401; 970 252-0630
PRODUCE
- Regular groceries have organic sections, as do specialty grocery stores
- Farmers' markets
- CSA and produce delivery is available in the area
SWEETENERS
ALMONDS
You may have heard about the almond pasteurization uproar. Almonds labeled "raw" that come from this country, generally California, will have been heat pasteurized or fumigated with propylene glycol (a nasty substance), which is also called "pasteurization." This is not a local product to my knowledge - generally almonds come from California.
- Trader Joe's said (in September 2007 at least) that if you buy the Valencia almonds, which come from Spain, they are truly raw. They do indeed sprout.
- Organic Pastures will ship raw almonds
- Healthy Habit has had raw almonds
STORES AND VENDORS
- Trader Joe's
- Whole Foods/Wild Oats
- Sprouts
- Healthy Habit (Phoenix)
- Fishhugger for wild salmon and certain other seafoods (salmon roe, wild shrimp with roe, wild scallops, crab, halibut), Bariani olive oil, New Mexican raw unfiltered honey, bee pollen, and propolis, New Mexican grass-fed beef, local lamb, marrow bones, offal, seasoning blends, and Organic Pastures dairy
- A Bar H Farm pastured meat
- Granola's has a lot of supplements but also has organic smoothies & vegetable juices, gluten-free products, small refrigerator and freezer sections, gourmet foods, pastas, food oils, seasonings, chocolates, herbal teas, body care products such as soap, laundry soap nuts, house cleaners, etc.
- Healthy Habit (Phoenix) sells raw goat milk, raw cow milk, supplements, gluten-free products, and a number of packaged foods.
- In the Raw (Gilbert and Scottsdale) has smoothies, fruit juices, and Nature's Variety raw pet food in freezer case. Beware if you're allergic to corn - the sorbet they add to smoothies has some corn component.
- TAKE YOUR VITAMINS! Don't let the title of this Health Food Store fool you--the owner, KAREN McCOY, RN is the owner, and she sells far more than just vitamins! This is an awesome Health Food Store, not only for what in on the shelf, but for the fact that Karen will do all she can to locate and place a personal order for you if what you want is NOT on the shelf! She is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and is dedicated to really helping her customers. The first reason I became sold on her store is that she carries a GRADE B MAPLE SYRUP!!! It is SO hard to find sources for Grade B Maple Syrup, which is even healthier for us than Grade A. You owe it to yourself to stop in and check out her store at 323 S. Gilbert Rd. Suite 101, Gilbert, AZ 85296 or go to her website at www.takeyourvitamins.net
- The Farm at South Mountain (Phoenix) has a little store on Saturdays and Sundays...if you're out there for breakfast or lunch, you'll find a number of products, from the farm (eggs, fruits, vegetables, herbs) & from elsewhere
RESTAURANTS
- Matt's Big Breakfast in downtown Phoenix is very tasty and offers some organic and some local foods in their tiny diner. They cook in butter and olive oil. Overall, their fare is hearty and real.
- Quiessence at the Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix is lavish but so worth it. Excellent chefs, local ingredients, and a constantly changing menu. House-made salumi!
FINDING FOOD LINKS
FARMERS' MARKETS LINKS
- Farmers' markets search is a USDA search for for Farmers' Markets in the US
- Arizona Community Farmers' Markets says it's "An Association of Valley Markets supporting direct, sustainable commerce between local area farmers and producers and their surrounding community." Includes Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Carefree, Mesa, and Scottsdale markets.
- The downtown Phoenix market is the official website of the downtown Phoenix market
OTHER LINKS
- Maricopa County Environmental Services for finding food establishment inspection reports
- Nina Planck, "food writer & expert on farmers' markets & local food"
- Zukay Live Foods, "We make raw and lacto-fermented salsas and relishes here outside of Lancaster, PA, and our mission with the company is to bring the health benefits of lacto-fermented foods back into the American diet through foods that Americans already consume."