Sierra Vista Farmers Markets Update for 01-02-2020

Happy New Year!
It’s good to be standing at the threshold of a brand new year. We hope you all had happy holidays and are ready to jump into the New Year with hope and enthusiasm. This Thursday January 2, the Sierra Vista Farmers Market will be open in Veteran’s Memorial Park from 10am – 2pm.

This Week at the Market
Tom Hanson with Hilltop Hydroponics will have his beautiful greens like arugula, kale, spring mix, lettuce, and several variety of microgreens.  Golden Rule Dairy will be on hand with their fresh Jersey milk and cream. If you are looking for honey and quality homemade canned goods, the Simmons Honey Ranchito will be at the market this week. They’ll be bringing strawberry rhubarb jam, garlic stuffed olives, chow-chow relish, and asparagus pickles. For honey they have several local varieties along with one pound jars of cut honey comb. Oh, and they’ll also have a limited supply of their chicken eggs. Backyard Gardening & Growing will have Grannie Smith apples, chicken eggs, bok choi, kale, Swiss chard, and arugula. Dennis Moroney and his crew from Sky Island Brand Meats will have their range fed beef and other meat products as well as a great variety of Navajo churro yarn.

Zia with Maggie’s Dog Treats will be back to supply you with quality goodies for your favorite pet. Experience Ancient Sea Salts will be at the market this week along with Hone Ranger, Big Woody’s Copper Canyon, K-1, and Bernie and Bill – to name just few.

If you are looking for a great gardening resource as you plan for your garden this spring be sure to stop by the Master Gardeners booth. The Master Gardeners will be teaming up with the Seed Library this week. In case you don’t know, the Seed Library is a great community resource offering a seed exchange program that allows you to expand your growing horizons as well as share your favorite seeds with others.

As a special treat this week, Lisa with Thunder Mountain Alpaca will be bringing her animals for you to pet and admire. Lisa will also be sharing some fascinating information about her Alpaca’s in this week’s market newsletter.

Vendors Spotlight

Contributed by Lisa Thompson –  Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch

Alpacas and Llamas and Sheep, oh My!

Alpacas are known for producing one of the finest and silkiest fibers used in the fashion industry. Most people consider Alpaca fleece a kind of wool, but it is not. It has different texture and construction than wool, and alpacas do not produce lanolin which gives sheep wool a greasy, hard to clean quality which some people are allergic to. Ancient South Americans used to call Alpaca fiber the “Fiber of Gods”, because it was reserved for royal use only. It comes in a huge variety of natural colors, and also takes dye well. Alpaca fiber is three times warmer and seven times stronger than than sheep or other kinds of wool. Alpaca fiber consists of natural scale-like layers of fiber, which allows the light to pass through it and gives the fiber a glossy look. Alpaca fleece is naturally water and flame resistant, and is an excellent insulator due to the fact that some of the fibers are actually hollow, trapping air inside just as feathers do.  

Llamas and alpacas are closely related species. Llamas are bigger than alpacas, they were raised to be pack animals so could carry a lot more on their backs. While both can be shorn like sheep, llamas have shorter, coarser hair. Alpacas and llamas can have babies together, they usually look like short llamas. In South America they’re called huarizos or mistis, in North America they often get the mash-up name of llapaca. Camels are famous for spitting when they’re annoyed, and as a distantly related species, alpacas will do the same. But alpacas only do this when they’re very upset. The rest of the time, they communicate with other alpacas in their herd by humming. 

So come on by Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch’s booth and meet some new good-natured and charmingly cute furry friends. Maybe do a little humming, feed them some treats, and get a kiss if you are lucky! While you are there, do a little Christmas shopping – everyone on your list will treasure a gift made from alpaca fiber. And, please ask about RANCH TOURS! Lisa will be home for the Holidays and will be happy to schedule a private tour for you and your visiting friends and family.

Special Announcements and Events

Master Gardeners and Seed Library
The Master Gardeners and Seed Library will teaming up this week at the market.

SNAP – Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
The Sierra Vista Farmers Market now accepts SNAP and Double Up benefits. Just visit our information booth near the center of the market to swipe your cards. Remember you can use them for all produce, dairy products, meats, spices, baked goods, and frozen ready-to eat meals (such as lasagna), plants that produce edibles like tomato plants and herbs. Double Up is only redeemable for Arizona grown fruits and vegetables, though.

This Week’s Weather Forecast

This Week’s Vendors
(Vendors are Alphabetized – attendance at Thursdays market subject to change without notice)

– – Vendor Grown – – Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Grown – – seal are known to grow at least 85% of the products they sell.
– – Vendor Brokered – – Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Brokered – – seal do not grow a majority of the produce they sell and are known to purchase  a majority of their products from third parties.

 ———————————————————————
This section is under construction – thank you for your patience.

Ancestral Herbals
Ancestral Herbals has a special for this week: Buy 3 bars of soap, get $ 2 off.

Arevalos Farms – – Vendor Grown – –
Aaron Cardona tells us:Their fresh crop of Arevalos Farm’s dry bean Frijol Mechudo is ready just in time for the holidays!  They’ll have butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and delicious pie pumpkins, as well as some delicious salad greens.  They’ll bring an assortment of their frozen value added products, like their pumpkin puree, hominy, roasted green chile and green chile posole.  They’ll also bring some of Ochoa’s Farm’s chile ristras and their red chile products.  If you’re looking on making your own tamales this holiday season, they’ll be taking orders for their non-gmo masa.

Backyard Gardening & Growing – – Vendor Grown – –

Noah Struse will bring apples and greens.

Big Skye Baker
Bodie with Big Skye Bakers always has tasty baked goods for you to try.

Big Woody’s

Travis will NOT be at the market, but Po Boys To Geaux has a wide variety of lunch menu items.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown – –
Edith Beatty will be at the market this week with her Miller Canyon apples. Edith will have Grannie Smith apples.

Café Cultiva
 Jesse and Jessica will have fresh brewed coffee by the cup. They will also have fresh roasted whole beans from Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, and India. If you need your beans ground they’ll be happy to do so while you wait. If you have a sweet tooth ask them about their been to bar chocolate.

Celestial Breads

Desert Oasis Soap
Greg brings a wide variety of soaps to the market every week. This weeks favorite will be gardenia. Ask him for his favorite scent.

Designs by Copper Canyon
Nancy tells us:To help those last minute shoppers we will be bringing our “Bin of Bargains” This bin contains various items which have had prices lowered for quick sale. It will include cozies, tunics, pillows and much more.  Naturally, we will be bringing our usual array of products.

Dolce Amore
Teresa will NOT be at the market this week.

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown – –

Esperanza
Tamales for the season are available at Esperanza’s booth. Also gluten free tortillas as well as regular tortillas. You can also grab a quick and delicious lunch burrito made right in front of you while you wait.

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Ginny makes fresh sourdough bread for you every week. Look for San Pedro River Valley Salsa at her booth.

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
Remember to pick up your raw milk and cream at Golden Rule Dairy. For those of you who like granola the Stride family makes their own healthy granola. They also offer kefir grains. Oh, and not to leave out Fido, the Stride’s also have a variety of deer antlers which make great dog chews. Must be an acquired taste…

Gracewater Farm
Trudy brings organic sourdough bread and herbal teas as well as chicken eggs. You’ll find her in Ginny’s booth at Eclectic Kitchen.

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Charlatta and Eric will NOT be at the market this week.

Hilltop Hydroponics – – Vendor Grown – –
This week Tom has living lettuce, spring mix, arugula and large and cherry tomatoes. There will also be sunflower and radish micro greens.  If you ask, Tom will tell you about how he grows his greens hydroponically. 

Hone Ranger
Scott the Hone Ranger will sharpen just about anything you bring to the market.

Incredible Snacks
Each week David brings an incredible assortment of dried fruit and nuts.

 Ketoluscious Bakery
We will NOT be at the market this week.

K-1 Kreations
K-1 owner Kris is one of our regular vendors. Her product line includes aprons, coaster, pot holders, dish rags, table runners, and  tote bags made out of unique fabric patterns. She loves special orders and will customize anything, even cloth pin bags or a grocery bag holder, just ask her.

Krazy Koytote Kettle Corn & Smoothies

Katerina’s-It’s original Greek
Cheese pie, spinach pie, dolmades (vegan), galaktopouriko-cream custard, Apricot pie-pasta flora, Baklava, Greek apple pie, almond butter cookies, Koulonrakia- Greek cookie, Kataifi-shredded Fillo dough with walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves, drizzed with honey.

Lazy KJ Ranch
Stuart with the Lazy KJ Ranch which specializes in “Farm to Table” all natural grass-fed pork.  Stop by their booth and try their outstanding smoked pork ribs, BBQ pork sandwich, white truffle fries with parmesan~romano, double stacked nachos, burritos, and air fried quesadillas. All prepared fresh table side. This week Stuart is offering ribs by the bone along with amazing BBQ pork any way you like it.

Lasagna and More
Chef Scotty will NOT be at the market.

Lettuce Man – – Vendor Grown – –

Donna will Not be at the market this week.

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
Zia specializes in all natural treats for your pets that do not contain any chemicals or artificial flavors. Treat your pets right and stop by Zia’s booth. 

McDonald Farm
Scrumptious baked goods are brought to you by Donna. Try lemon bars, cinnamon rolls, scones, hand pies, and the ever favorite seven nut caramel bar. Shelled pecans are also available.She also brings chicken eggs.

Papa Mike‘s Jerky 
Papa Mike and his much loved beef jerky will be at the market this week. Papa Mike has a flavor for everybody so come and find your favorite. His best selling jerky is mesquite flavored and the chili lemon.

 Queen Ceviche
Feliz will NOT be at the market this week.

 SAS-Z Nuts – – Vendor Grown – –
If you’d like to spice up your pistachios a bit, Steve has garlic onion, green chili garlic, chili lime and hot chili in addition to premium salted pistachios.

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –
Ranch owner Dennis Moroney tells us that he will bring their grass fed beef and lamb as well as wild Salmon from Alaska. He and his wife Deb make their own peanut butter from certified organic peanuts. Also, they bring all natural churro sheep wool in a variety of colors (no dye added at all).

Simmons Honey Ranchito 
 Their local mesquite honey is now in season and its the largest crop of the year, its light amber color is beautiful reminder of the wild desert mesquite from which it originates.

Fun Honey Fact: Did you know: Honey is a natural sweetener (sweeter than table sugar) mostly composed of fructose and glucose and about 18% water (the lesser water content the better the quality of the honey). It is rich in antioxidants, fat free, and cholesterol free. Honey is an excellent energy food, so make sure you stash a few honey stix in your hiking backpack, it might just give you that extra edge to make it there and back.

Sivonn’s Garden  – – Vendor Grown – –
Fresh backyard garden produce by Sivonn. Seasonal greens and other produce.

Super Natural Organics – – Vendor Brokered – –

Jack will be at the market this week.

Sweet Arizona
Roger and Debra will be bringing a large selection of homemade toffee, brittle and fudge. All their products are always naturally gluten, soy and preservative free. They also have dairy free, vegan and nut free options available. Ask them about their market special.

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts 
Tawin’s Garden not only brings potted plants and succulents, but she is a whiz with her crochet needle, come check out her cute little cacti and Yodas. They make great souvenirs or gifts for the grandchildren.

Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch
Check out Lisa’s alpaca boutique for that unique gift made from alpaca fibers.

Toy’s Eggrolls

White Cane Salmon
Randy with White Cane Sockeye Salmon will bring Ling cod (8 oz), smoked sockeye and lox, 8 oz halibut and sockeye portions, sockeye filet in 1.5 to 2 lb. sides, King crab legs, and Burger meat to make fish cakes.