GREEN LIFE
THE GREEN GIFT GUIDE
TO FOODIE PARADISE BY JAMIE BALESTERI
W
ith the holidays fast approaching, it can be tough to find unique gifts that are also thoughtful and represent a green mindset and lifestyle. What better way to do that than through good food? A few things to look for JAMIE BALESTERI are products that support local small businesses and that are wholesome, sustainable, fair trade, or all of the above. Many products that fit the bill can be found at your local farmer’s market. To get started, here are a few recommendations for holiday gifting the Green Living way. CSA – THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which is a general term for a prepaid subscription for farm-fresh products. There are several Arizona farms and ranches that have their own CSA programs, typically operating on a seasonal and monthly basis. Most CSAs provide vegetables, but you can find a few that include meat, eggs, dairy, honey and fresh bread. Check out Blue Sky Farms for some killer organic veggies, or Double Check Ranch for the (100 percent grassfed, organic) meat lover. SWEET & SAVORY Terre Botanicals is an artisan purveyor of aromatic comestibles. Their offerings include salts and sugars botanically flavored with pure edible essential oils. They also offer the edible essential oils themselves, which are great to use as liquid spices in any food or beverage recipe. Find them at the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’ Market or on their website at terrebotanicals.com. Other Local Artisans: Peanut Butter Americano, Lillie Mae’s Blue Ribbon Pickles, Zak’s Chocolates, and Homeboy’s Hot Sauce.
LOCAL LIBATIONS With tons of new craft breweries opening up, and a growing Arizona wine industry, alcoholic beverages would be a great way to go. A growler from recently opened Helton Brewing Company in Phoenix or a bottle of Bodega Pierce or Dos Cabezas wine make excellent host or hostess gifts. Don’t forget cocktail complements like Iconic Cocktail Co. mixers and AZ Bitters Lab. GREEN THUMB For those with a grow-your-own-food mentality, herbs, seeds, fruit trees and plant starts are a unique and thoughtful gift. Visit recently opened Dig It! nursery in Phoenix, check out the Urban Farm’s fruit tree program, or find seeds through Native Seeds/S.E.A.R.C.H. for varieties that are indigenous to the desert southwest. COFFEE & TEA When caffeine is a necessity, coffee and tea purveyors who are mindful of sustainable sourcing can be the perfect resource for a great gift! For coffee, check out Peixoto Coffee Roasters or Exo Roast Co., and for tea, visit Loose Leaf Tea Market or find Cha Union at a few local farmer’s markets in the Phoenix area. DON’T FORGET THE PETS! Even though your furry friends might not hold similar excitement for the holiday season, they sure will show their joy when you gift them some delicious treats made by the Flying Bakery or Happy Tails Barkery. For more Green Gift ideas, search goodfoodfinderaz.com, and visit a farmer’s market in your area! Jamie Balesteri is an advocate of the local, sustainable food system and works with several key organizations within the food and farmer’s market community in Phoenix including the Maricopa County Food System Coalition. For stories on her passion for farming, travel, and recipe development, visit the-open-range.com. For more articles about nutrition visit greenlivingaz.com/nutrition
14 greenliving | November 2016
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