Carl Seacat's Perfect Summer Farmers Market Food Day

Carl Seacat

​Carl Seacat is a mainstay of many Valley farmers markets. Seacat grows his produce in the West Valley on Blue Sky Farms farmland as well as up in Cottonwood during summer/fall months. You can find his produce at markets around the valley including Roadrunner, Downtown Phoenix Public Market, Old Town Scottsdale and Flagstaff. His produce is prepared in some of the finest restaurants around the state. He's even started foraging Arizona mushrooms to grow his business.

This former software company owner who planted the first thing I ever grew in his backyard the spring of 2003 is now the "voice" of the local grower due to his passion and honesty he shares frequently on twitter (@seacatgardens).

Here is his perfect food day -- using food gathered from his favorite vendors at markets from all over the Valley. First, his actual day gathering the goods with photographer Tim Lenz and the perfect meals designed by Chef Gwen Ashley Walters:

When first asked to participate in this series I declined since I spend the majority of my time either nose down in the dirt or driving back and forth between Phoenix, Cottonwood and Sedona and don't either have a lot of time to eat out or consider myself much of an expert on the local dining scene. A little thought, however, and it occurred to me that I spend my summers amidst a number of very hard working, wonderful people who labor diligently in the extreme heat to do their best to bring you an often under recognized bounty of Valley summer vegetables.

With that thought, I asked my great, good bud Tim Lenz to grab his camera and join me for a three market Saturday tour to highlight this local summer bounty for you. So, with a little help from my friends, as always...J I give you my Perfect Summer Farmers Market Eating Day...

Tim and I meet at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, a wonderful local institution where market director Cindy Gentry allowed me to bring and sell my one item, quart bags of Genovese basil, which gave me my start in this business five or so years ago. Strolling down the first aisle we stop and chat with Derek Slife of ChowLocally about their intriguing new online CSA venture which allows customers to select their own veggies weekly from participating vendors on their website. It's an excellent idea and their first day at the Downtown Market was a rousing success.

Photo by Tim Lenz

Carl Seacat chatting it up with Derek Slife of Chow Locally

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Over at the very full Maya's Farm booth we see a bounty of Shishito peppers, huge squash blossoms, Lacinato kale, okra and eggplant amongst the beautiful flowers and other produce items. Maya Dailey is a local farming legend and an anchor of the downtown market.

Photo by Tim Lenz

Maya's Farm Shishito Peppers

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Photo by Tim Lenz

Maya's Farm Lacinato Kale

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We spent a lot of time speaking with Mark Rhine of Rhiba Farms listening to his enthusiastic and extraordinary explanation of how they produce their delicate microgreens, wheatgrass and shoots. To the best of my recollection, it has something to do with fish.... I recall making a mental note to call Mark and arrange a visit when I have a spare day to go check out what has to be one of the most interesting growing operations in the Valley.