Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market: A Saturday Morning Ritual

The Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market operates Saturday mornings at Scottsdale Civic Center from October through May and has built one of the most consistent and loyal farmer market audiences in Arizona. The market runs from 8am to 1pm. Arrive before 9am for the best selection at produce vendors, who sell out of their most popular items well before the lunch crowd arrives. The vegetable producers tend toward specialty items that don't appear at grocery stores: heirloom tomatoes, unusual varieties of winter squash, watermelon radishes, multiple varieties of kale and other brassicas. Pasta vendors make fresh pasta the morning of each market, sold by weight. The tagliatelle and pappardelle are the most consistently excellent choices. Purchase quantities you'll use within two days. The cheese and dairy vendors bring items from small Arizona producers that aren't available through retail distribution. Ask about the production process — most vendors are the farmers themselves and can explain how the product differs from what you'd find at a grocery store.