Kettle Heroes Brothers Aaron and Rudi Sinykin honor their father and grandfathers, who all served, by donating generously to military assistance programs. Their artisanal popcorn comes in flavors ranging from prickly pear kettle corn to porcini-truffle-cheddar (our umami-rich favorite). kettleheroes.com
Loot N’ Booty BBQ U.S. Navy veteran Sterling Smith is the award-winning pitmaster behind this multi-pronged barbecue brand, which includes spice rubs, sauces, ’cue classes and even two cookbooks, The Complete Barbecue Cookbook and Ultimate Book of Barbecue Sauces. lootnbootybbq.com
G.I. Joe Coffee House Staffed by veterans such as retired Air Force Captain Tony Hudson, who picked up the coffee bug after a fact-finding trip to the East Coast, G.I. Joe Coffee House roasts its beans in Scottsdale and donates a percentage of its sales to veteran-support groups like the USO and the Gary Sinise Foundation. The company is currently looking for investors to expand and build coffee kiosks nationwide. gijoecoffee.com
Cider Corps Purple Heart recipient Jason Duren returned to Arizona in 2013 with two traumatic brain injuries after a brutal nine-month tour in Afghanistan, serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Desperate for professional structure and a therapeutic outlet, he started the Valley’s first cidery with his brother and fellow fermenter, Josh. Based in Mesa, they have the Valley’s best food-industry origin story – and the cider is superior, too. cidercorpsaz.com
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East Valley
4 Corners: Best of the Valley Veteran-Aligned Food Products
Editorial StaffJuly 1, 2022
