For many Valley farmers markets, spring also marks a big shift. Some close down for the summer, while others move indoors. Here's what you need to know about spring schedule changes along with a few fun market finds.
Phoenix farmers market updates
The food and produce-focused market that pops up in Old Town Scottsdale will run during its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Saturday, April 29. Starting in May, the market will run from 8 a.m. until noon, and in June, the tents will pop up for a quick morning market from 7 to 10 a.m.Park West Market, which pops up in Peoria, is nearing the end of its season. The market takes place on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of April.
In Mesa, check out the Farm to Mesa Market at MacDonald and Main Street. The market takes place on Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon through May 12.
Gilbert Farmers Market sets up right in the heart of the historic Heritage District with plenty of vendors to shop from. Starting in May, the hours will change for the summer, from winter hours of 8 a.m. to noon switching over to 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
One of the rare Sunday markets in the Valley is the High Street Farmers Market in north Phoenix. This market runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through May.
The Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market takes place in a large parking lot on Fifth Street which offers plenty of space to roam around. The market will switch to its summer hours on May 18. Current hours are Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Summer hours will be 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.
At Uptown Farmers Market, spring also brings a big shift. Throughout the cooler months, the market pops up twice a week. But the Wednesday morning market has closed for the summer. The bigger Saturday market will also undergo some alterations as the weather heats up. The market runs year-round, including during Phoenix's hottest months. But in the summer, many of the vendors migrate indoors to serve their produce and products from inside the air-conditioned church. The indoor iteration of the market begins in May.
7 vendors we love from farmers markets across the Valley
Los Muertos Salsa
Uptown Farmer's Market, High Street Farmer's Market
We love Los Muertos' salsas, elote dips and homemade tortilla chips. The salsas "keep for about a week, but rarely last that long," according to owner Anthony Perez. Our container of “Effin Hot” salsa lasted about three days. Don't sleep on the seasonal flavors such as Sunflower Slasa, Cranberry Peach and Pichuberry Peach. Salsas are $7 each or three for $20. Expect to see around eight to 10 flavors at a time.
Dupe Loops
Gilbert Farmer's Market, Old Town Scottsdale pop-ups
Finding allergen-friendly and gluten-free desserts can be tricky, so having a go-to doughnut spot for gluten-free sweets is a treat. The Dupe Loops truck has half a dozen rotating flavors with fun names such as the lemon poppy seed Seedy Motel and the Sticky Puck made with maple syrup and maple drizzle.
Deborah Guidarelli perfected recipes with her grandmother before she passed away. Carmella was the inspiration for the company.
Carmella's Joy
High Street Farmer's Market
When Deborah Guidarelli lost her grandmother, she wanted to honor her legacy by sharing her recipes. Founded in 2023, Carmella's Joy does just that. The vendor sells classic Italian rustic wine cookies, lavender cookies and salt and pepper bread sticks from old Italian family recipes that Guidarelli grew up with in New York and perfected over many years of baking with her grandmother, Carmella. Carmella's Joy offers samples so customers can pick a favorite before purchasing. When asked what or how to serve the wine cookies, Guidarelli says she and her family eat them by the bag like chips or pretzels. She also loves hearing what customers do with them, and has heard suggestions such as putting them in soups and salads. All of the offerings are dairy-free.
Prickly Pear Tea Co.
Most Valley markets
Prickly Pear Tea Co. carries various gourmet loose-leaf teas that we enjoy both hot and cold. Established in 2012, this local vendor can be found at dozens of markets and shops in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Peoria. Bags of looseleaf gourmet teas are $15 for green or black tea and $20 for the chai tea latte flavor. We especially love the oolong jasmine green tea that lists prickly pear as one of the ingredients.
PAZ Salsa
Roadrunner Farmer's Market, Chandler, Ahwatukee
Raphael Paz’s parents were restaurant owners and he grew up in a kitchen full of his grandmothers' recipes brought from Mexico. Right before the pandemic, he was inspired to take a break from his corporate job and start bottling and selling salsas at farmers markets. He now works out of a commercial kitchen in Roadrunner Park for his business PAZ Salsa.
"These are made from scratch, family recipes that hold deep meaning and make people's eyes light up," Paz says of his offerings which have expanded to include tamales. Red Chile is his original, but he also offers tamales with green chile chicken, corn and spinach with cheese. Preorders for tamales can be done through the website 48 hours before markets.
Sonoran Scavengers
Uptown Farmers Market, High Street Farmers Market
According to co-owner Karen Bedell, Sonoran Scavengers started as a hobby and evolved into the small business that it is today seven years ago. Bedell and her partner started with a modest three products: mesquite flour, mesquite chocolate chip cookies and desert granola. Sonoran Scavengers now offers six kinds of wild, gluten-free flour, over 100 kinds of jams, jellies and syrups and a full line of cookies and scones made with local, foraged ingredients. Sonoran Scavengers also works with small farmers for produce and uses local honey as a sweetener.
Doh Mama Bakery
High Street Farmer's Market, Arrowhead Farmer's Market
This bakery stand sells the best sourdough we've found at a farmers market and it comes in spicy, savory and sweet options for every palate. The cinnamon twists will satisfy any sweet tooth. Baker Ashley Forde started Doh Mama and her breads and cinnamon twists are aesthetically pleasing and often include fun, rotating flavors and seasonal spins such as a pumpkin-shaped loaf she sold last October. Pro tip: Head to this vendor first, as they tend to sell out quickly.
