Spread the Local Love: Where to Buy Arizona Grown Flowers and Artisan Chocolate
When it comes to finding the perfect Valentine’s gift, consider spreading the love by supporting your local farmers and food artisans. When you purchase flowers from a local farmer, flowers are often harvested that morning so they smell sweeter and last longer. You can also find unique flower varieties specific to the Arizona landscape!
According to the International Trade Center, the floral industry is worth a whopping $100 billion in global sales. The US industry alone is around $5 billion with close to 80% imported! This means that the flowers purchased at big store-chains tend to be out of season, covered in pesticides and lacking their sweet aroma.
Here’s a round-up of where you can purchase local flowers. Check out the Good Food Finder directory to find more near you!
Locally Grown Flowers
Maya’s Farm: Swing by Maya’s Farm booth at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market to pick up seasonal, fresh-cut flowers, such as beautiful zinnias, grown on her farm in South Phoenix.
Steadfast Farms: Steadfast Farms offers elegant flower bouquets that were grown on their two-acre bio-intensive market farm in Mesa, AZ. Pick up your bouquets at their booth at one of these farmers markets or swing by their super cute farm store.
Bene Vivendo: For your valentine who prefers a more avante garde bouquet or flower offering, be sure to swing by Bene Vivendo’s booth at the uptown farmers market for a bounty of edible flowers, eclectic flower arrangements and beautiful wreaths. See what we’re talking about here!
Wild Heart Farm in Rimrock, AZ is committed to small-scale sustainable farming that connects the community through nourishment of the soul and body. In an effort to grow beauty and biodiversity, Wild Heart follows a philosophy of “slow flowers,” which takes into consideration seasonality, soil health, and pollination.
Cultivated Everlastings is a small scale urban farmer with a freeze dried food line, local flowers, hands on workshops + events. Shop at 3101 E Shea Blvd #221 Phoenix AZ 85028.
Is your Valentine a foodie (or are you)? Fun little fact: biochemically, love is like eating large amounts of chocolate. Whether you’re planning on wielding two handfuls of chocolate in an act of self-love or if you want to speak the foodie language of love…nothing says “I love you” like a box of locally made chocolates.
Here is a list of gourmet, locally made artisan chocolate for love day or any day of the week!
Locally Made Chocolate and other Decadent Sweets
The Toffee Merchant is an award-winning, 15 awards and counting, confectioner unlike any other! Their toffee is slow cooked to maximize the nuance of flavors enhanced by using some of the finest spices, premium espresso, or long-aged bourbon.
BNaked Chocolates in Scottsdale offers artisan chocolates, macaroons, and fruit bars. All items are made without dairy, soy, gluten, or refined sugar. These chocolates are perfect for Paleo, vegan, diabetic, or raw food eaters.
Urban Cookies located in Phoenix offers something a little different from the standard chocolate gift. Check out their decadent cupcakes, assorted cookies, or even donuts for your loved ones this year. PLUS: they have gluten-free versions available, too,
Carolina’s Chocolates is located in Mesa, AZ; and In honor of her mentor, Carolina’s Chocolates are crafted from high-quality chocolate with a variety of chilis added, such as chipotle, cayenne, jalapeno, or ancho. The unique sweet yet spicy flavor is sure to surprise and please that Valentine’s day person on your list.
Monsoon Chocolate based in Tucson, AZ is an award-winning chocolate maker and confectionery that takes it from cacao bean to chocolate bar while drawing inspiration from local ingredients. They collaborate with farmers who grow, harvest, ferment, and dry the cacao and honor their hard work by processing the cacao as little as possible to reveal the inherent flavors in the beans. They then transform them into craft chocolate bars, bon bons, confections, deserts, and beverages.
Zak’s Chocolate starts with ethically-sourced cocoa beans that are transformed into small batches of dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan dark chocolate. Their other dairy-filled chocolates contain local ingredients, like Danzeisen Dairy cream, in their rotating offerings of truffles and caramel candies.
Gayle’s Chocolates store was initially started in the Detroit area in 1979, but has since moved to Cottonwood, AZ. She prides herself on creating handmade and hand-packaged delights available in her store or online. She even sells chocolate shoes!
Chocofin Chocolatier located in Fountain Hills starts with premium chocolates like Callebaut, Valrhona, or Scharffenberger and transforms them into decadent ganaches that become the center of numerous smooth and silky truffles.
Cerreta Candy Co in Glendale, AZ has been family-owned over four generations of the Cerreta family. They are sure to have something to delight everyone, and they even offer tours and chocolate tastings!
Chocolita in Sedona specializes in chocolates combined with botanicals creating uniquely flavored, plant-based chocolates. The bars and truffles are low-glycemic too, so there is no guilt in trying them all.
Untamed Confections is located in Tubac in Southern Arizona and is the dreamchild of owners Linda and Tom. They creatively use only honey as the sweetener in their unique caramel and chocolate confections.
Sonhab in Tempe, AZ carefully processes cacao beans into bars of chocolate: a process that takes an entire week! They then add adaptogenic herbs and other inclusions like mushrooms, bee pollen, and flowers into their beautiful creations.
Heal With Juice Give the gift of fresh pressed juices to your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. “I am LOVE” juice is made with organic apples, beets, carrots, lemon and orange juices. Order online for delivery to your front door!
Luscious Bakeshop is offering melt-in-your-mouth White Chocolate Ricotta Cookies and French Silk Pies for that special someone. Don’t delay and email: lusciousdesserts4u@gmail.com to place your order.