Photography by Nicole Roegner

Just in time for spring,
we’ve scoured Valley
farmers’ markets
and found the best
local products.

Coding system: Carefree Farmers’ Market (CF);
Downtown Glendale (DG); Downtown Phoenix
Public Market (DT); Scottsdale’s Old Town Farmers’
Market (OT); Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market (RR)

FARMER’S CHEESE
Rainbow Valley Nursery elevates a homespun cheese made with cow’s milk to udder-licious with the addition of a few flavorful ingredients. We prefer the spinach and pine nut version and the powerfully flavored kalamata olive, spiked with a touch of red pepper in addition to the briny, chopped black olives. Check out the flavored gnocchi and butter products, too. Visit rainbowvalleynurseryaz.com. ($4, 4 ounces) DT


Butter toffee almond crunch

It’s easy to get addicted to Dave’s Gourmet Snacks’ caramel corn. It comes in eight flavors, but our favorite, butter toffee almond crunch, isn’t so easy to find. Owner Dave Smith only sells the sweet-and-salty snacks at the Saturday Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market on 36th Street and Cactus Road. Get there early for the best selections, like the macadamia coconut crunch. Call 602-791-2513. ($4, 8 ounces) RR







TOMATO PEACH HOT SAUCE

Who would have thought that peach and tomato make such enticing flavor partners? Apparently Terra Verde Farms thought so and decided to bottle them together. A touch of habañero peppers makes this a kicky little sauce – perfect over a goat cheese omelet. We’re also smitten with their spicy o’s, a sweet version of pickled jalapeño slices that gussy up grilled shrimp or a block of cream cheese. Visit terraverdefarms.com for recipes using all of its products. ($8, 13 ounces) DT, OT, RR





JALAPEÑO JACK CHEESE BREAD

Peoria’s House of Bread bakes up mostly fat- and dairy-free breads, but we simply can’t resist the soft, tender loaf of jalapeño jack, which is neither fat- nor dairy-free. Is it the sweet touch of honey or the slight heat of jalapeños that makes this bread irresistible? It’s mighty fine just sliced off the loaf, but a brief stint in the toaster raises this bread to yeasty heaven. Visit houseofbreadpeoria.com.
($5, 19-ounce loaf) DG, RR






WILD PACIFIC ALBACORE TUNA

This canned tuna from Especial Tuna Products blows away the typical mass-marketed brands. Local winter resident Roger Kamb, a 30-year veteran of the northwest commercial fishing industry, processes his tuna and salmon with minimal fuss, resulting in bold-flavored, omega-rich fish that tastes as good as it is good for you. We’re partial to the natural flavor, but the olive oil and sea salt flavor is tasty, too. Visit especialtuna.com. ($8, 7.5 ounces) CF, DT, OT, RR





MESQUITE HONEY

The cute bear-shaped squeeze bottle caught our eye, but the deep flavor of Absolutely Delightful mesquite honey won over our taste buds. We also adore the desert wildflower flavor. Available raw or filtered, these honeys are richer in flavor and thicker than grocery store brands. Visit absolutely-
delightfulazhoney.com. ($12, 24 ounces) CF, DT, RR







For more information about the Downtown
Phoenix Public Market, visit foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket. Visit arizonafarmersmarkets.com for information about other Valley markets, including hours and locations. Some markets accept credit cards, but it’s best to bring cash.