Organic White Sonora Wheat – and we are coming back to Scottsdale…

Heirloom grains have been getting quite the resurgence in popularity. One of the leading grains making a come back is White Sonora Wheat. This grain has a rich history here in Arizona and is one of the oldest surviving wheat varieties anywhere in North America. It was first Introduced in the early 1700s by Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino to the Sonoran region of Mexico and Southern Arizona. White Sonora Wheat was the staple wheat for the western United States for almost 200 years, from the early 1700s to the 1900s. Starting in the early 1800s, California planted Sonoran Wheat almost exclusively. This wheat was actually Arizona’s first export crop. Sonora Wheat berries have been added to Slow Foods Ark of Taste. The Ark of Taste preserves delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction.

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Noble Granary to now be able to introduce White Sonora Wheat the way it was traditionally grown – without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. Our White Sonoran Wheat berries are USDA Certified Organic and Arizona Grown. McClendon’s Select is proud to be able to play a role in re-introducing White Sonora Wheat to consumers and in increasing sustainable food production in Arizona. These wheat berries are cleaned twice to help guarantee uniform size and to make sure the grain is free of burrs, wheat chaff and other foreign materials. The grading on this grain is best that you can get.

White Sonora Wheat is a versatile whole grain, full of vitamins and fiber, with a sweet, nutty taste and a delightful chewy texture. This grain is very flexible, it can be used in beer production, milled to make breads and tortillas, or boiled and used for a grain salad for example. They can take a fair amount of time to cook (up to 50 minutes or more). These grains even work well if you toast them prior to cooking on the stove top for a deeper nuttier flavor.  We will have this White Sonora Wheat available this week at the Uptown Market on Wednesday, and we will be back in Scottsdale at the Old Town Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

As well, Noble Breads will be with us at both markets this week and they will be bringing a Spent Grain Loaf, as well as a selection of their new pastries which they previewed last week.  These pastries use the same ingredients as their breads.  Tomorrow’s selection will include orange sesame loaf, lemon poppy, coffee cake, blue berry muffins, chocolate chunk scones and a variety of cookies, including an amazing Valhrona chocolate chip which I got to try last week.  These are not to be missed.  I think Aidan did his best to eat them all last week while on fall break.  Good news – he is back in school so you have a chance to try them for yourself.

We are excited to be back in Scottsdale on Saturday.  See you at the markets!

McClendon’s Select Market Schedule

Uptown Wednesday Farmers’ Market
Starting October 7, 2015 thru June 22, 2016
Wednesdays from 8:00am – 1:00pm
Located on the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. On the grounds of the North Phoenix Baptist Church.

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’ Market
Starting October 17, 2015 thru May 14, 2016
Saturdays 8:00am – 1:00pm
Located on the Southwest Corner of 1st Street & Brown in Scottsdale. Brown is one block East of Scottsdale road. 1st street is two blocks South of Indian School road.

John’s Amish Country for McClendon’s Select Market Schedule

Uptown Saturday Farmers’ Market
Year Round Every Saturday 9:00am – 12:00pm
Located on the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. On the grounds of the North Phoenix Baptist Church.