PHOENIX/MESA DINING64

Photo of The Cam

elback Market courtesy of V

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arket courtesy of Phoenix Public Market; fresh greens at Singh Farm

s courtesy of Singh Farms

EAT LIKE A LOCAL THE BEST FARMERS MARKETS IN GREATER PHOENIX By Laura Hahnefeld

Thanks to a growing appreciation for locally grown and produced products as well as an increasing awareness to know where our food comes from, farmers markets are flourishing across America – and Greater Phoenix is no exception. These three favorite spots feature a diversity of farmers market finds as fun to shop as they are to discover.

THE CAMELBACK MARKETJames Beard Award-winning chef and legendary Arizona tastemaker Vincent Guerithault’s European-inspired gourmet market is a favorite of neighborhood locals as well as Phoenix’s best-known chefs. On Saturday, the parking lot of Guerithault’s decades old restaurant, Vincent on Camelback, is packed with top-notch local produce, imported cheese and exotic fruits as

well as homemade jams, croissants and fresh pasta. Patrons can stroll the various stalls with a glass of wine or sit back and enjoy made-to-order creations such as omelets, crêpes and grilled panini sandwiches. Make sure to arrive early, though — this little market fills up fast. Open Saturday (Oct. – May), from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

OPEN AIR MARKET AT THE PHOENIX PUBLIC MARKET A hot spot for Downtown Phoenix locavores, this urban epicenter for growers and purveyors of local goods in Arizona is open all year round. On Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, dozens of vendors gather to sell seasonal produce as well as specialty foods like Arizona honey, grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, gourmet salsas and artisan breads. Neighborhood artists and crafters are on hand as well, offering items such as hand-made pillows, mosaic jewelry and environmentally friendly soaps. Open Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday (May - Sept.), 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday (Oct. – Apr.), 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SATURDAY MARKET AT SINGH FARMSAn organic farm and market by way of a fairy tale, Singh Farms’ 20-acre oasis in Scottsdale might be the most enchanted place in Arizona to purchase local goods. Visitors can browse the garden and animal pens (including peacock coops) before moving on to a rustic shed filled with handcrafted flatbreads, exotic pickled produce and seasonal beverages. The Farms’ centerpiece, a quaint log cabin market, boasts pristine produce, breads and just-made pastries. There’s also a chef-run eatery, juice bar and footpaths dotted with local artisans selling items like homemade mustards, jams, and salsas. Open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Squonk Opera performs

A harvest of color at The Camelback Market

Downtown Phoenix’s Open Air Market

Fresh greens at Singh Farms