07 Jun 2013
Visit Mesa's Regional Farms Set Stage for Orchard Dinners, Olive Grove Dining, and Agri-tourism Festivals
June 10, 2013 (MESA, Ariz.) – Mesa's bountiful harvest is proudly shared with visitors. Here, fresh experiences and a treasured heritage of family farms and long-standing festivals make for lasting memories. Serving as a culinary gateway to Phoenix and Scottsdale, the neighboring farms in and around Mesa are providing a bounty of seasonal goods for visitors to enjoy year-round. Citrus in January, Peaches in May, Olives in October. Travelers can time their visits to experience chef-driven locavore dinners featuring Arizona winemakers and participate in ice cream making classes on a dairy farm.
DINNERS DOWN THE PEACH ORCHARD
Just down the road in Queen Creek, guests can make reservations for an exquisite dining experience at Schnepf Farms, a fourth generation family farm and the largest organic peach grower in Arizona. Schnepf Farms hosts their Dinners Down the Orchard program in the "middle of our peach orchard” on their 300 acre farm. Offered a handful of times a year, each one is hosted by a notable Valley chef and features the culinary bounty of the season. Past chefs have included Iron Chef Beau MacMillan from elements at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Eddie Matney from Scottsdale's Eddie's House restaurant, and Chef Vincent Guerithault of Vincent's on Camelback. Dinners are farm casual and include numerous courses paired with wine, served at sunset and under the stars. Call for dates and reservations.
A TASTE OF ITALY IN THE DESERT
Just east of Mesa is the Queen Creek Olive Mill, Arizona's only family-owned and operated working olive mill and farm where olives are grown and pressed for the production of high quality extra virgin olive oil. Grown at the base of the San Tan Mountains, an area known for its fertile soil, this flood plain region is famous for its high quality fruits and vegetables. The combination of long sunny days and cool desert nights provide the ideal growing conditions for the trees. After a tour and complimentary tasting of oils, olives and tapenades, guests are invited to dine at del Piero – the mill's Tuscan-inspired eatery featuring fresh gourmet sandwiches, as well as soups, salads, gelato and espresso. The most popular site at the mill is the Tucsany-inspired olive grove with more than 100 trees showcasing the variety of olives grown and harvested in Arizona.
DAIRY FARM CHARMS VISITORS WITH "UDDER" DELIGHTS
Visitors to Mesa can roll up their sleeves and get a taste of life on the farm. At Superstition Farms in east Mesa, guests can enjoy public tours of a fourth generation dairy farm. Run by brother and sister team, Casey and Alison Stechnij, tours are aimed at demonstrating to visitors the daily life on a working “agritourist” family farm. In addition to learning about modern dairy operation and how farmers work to be environmentally conscious, guests also discover the dedication taken to the care, comfort, and health of every animal. Also on site is a petting zoo, Milk Bar featuring a dozen flavors including Butterscotch and Peaches & Cream, and the Mooster's Moo-tique, a fully stocked boutique featuring toys, novelty items, games, candy, fresh eggs, cheeses, and local jams and honey. Their ice cream, Udder Delights, features local farm ingredients and a fun take on flavors from potato chip and hot dog to avocado and strawberry-basil.
The Orange Patch NAMED A “Top Food Drive” IN U.S.
The Orange Patch is one of Mesa's original citrus growers and has stood the test of time as other orchards across the Metropolitan Phoenix area have closed and been forgotten. Located north of the city, the Orange Patch is 110 acres of citrus and 30 acres of sweet corn. Passersby can enjoy the fragrant orange blossoms each spring when temperatures begin to rise. National Geographic named Mesa a top food drive city in 2010 sighting the many thriving citrus growers and miles of city streets lined with citrus groves. Peak season for orange production is January and February. Guests visiting are welcome to watch the picking and production process with special tours offered for groups. Blossoms are blooming every March and April and you can see folks drive by with windows wide open to take in the fragrant fumes. The store also has fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh honey, ice cream and other gift items for sale.
HOLLYWOOD CASTS SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY FARM, AGRITOPIA
Agritopia is a community on the edge of the rural/urban interface. It is an "urban farm" designed to flourish in the urban setting. Instead of a huge field of one crop, you find a patchwork of numerous specialty crops. Agritopia has pathways which allow residents and visitors to easily view the crops. The same-day harvest is sold at the Farm Stand, and is also being served at Joe's Farm Grill and The Coffee Shop. All of the produce grown on the farm is grown under the USDA organic protocol. Residents and non-residents of Agritopia are engaged in community gardening and there is a waiting list for 12x12 lots. Both restaurants located inside the Agritopia community have established a national foodie following from their appearances on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with host Guy Fieri, and TLC's Cupcake Wars.
For more information on these and other agri-tourism experiences in Mesa, Arizona, go online to Visit Mesa at www.VisitMesa.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Michelle Streeter, Director of Communications
Visit Mesa
Direct: 480-682-3638 Toll-free: 800-283-6372 x345
E-mail: Michelle@VisitMesa.com
Download Images: High-resolution images for editorial use are available for download at www.VisitMesa.com/PhotoTour
