You can find just about anything at the weekend farmers markets at St. Philip's Plaza - including several options for grass-fed beef.
There were four purveyors on a recent Sunday.
Proponents maintain grass-fed cattle are leaner and therefore lower in calories than grain-fed cattle, which often don't have as much room to roam and build muscle. Both types of beef are high in iron and protein.
At a recent market, Michelle Burress looked over information that she had picked up from Jojoba Beef Co., a ranch based in Kearny. The 24-year-old registered nurse said she feels more healthy when she eats grass-fed beef.
"I like how it cooks really fast because it's so lean," she said. "I also like knowing where the meat is from and that it's not just from some giant processing plant."
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The Food Conspiracy Co-op serves grass-fed beef hot dogs (not from Arizona) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays. For $3, you get the hot dog on an organic wheat bun.
It also sells Arizona grass-fed beef from the Bisbee area's Sky Island Ranch and Aravaipa's Painted Cave Cattle Co., said Steven Spencer, the co-op's grocery manager.
Spencer said the co-op sells about 100 pounds a month of ground beef.
Per pound prices of the pre-packaged meat include $6.69 for ground beef, $14.29 for sirloin tip and $17.19 for T-bone.
"I think it tastes fresher - I can taste the difference," said Spencer, 38. "You're definitely paying for local meat, but the money goes direct to the person that raises the animal."
Chef Ramiro Scavo, 31, offers grass-fed beef at Pasco, which opened last month in Main Gate Square. (Pasco, by the way, is derived from the Latin word for pasture.)
"It's the natural way of the animal being raised," he said. "The meat is actually serving its purpose for once."
He braises the meat with fat and marrow bones to raise the fat content in the liquid.
"The burger is like eating steak," he said. "You feel like you're eating meat."
Some places that sell grass-fed beef
Restaurants
• Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave.
• Harvest, 10355 N. La Canada Drive.
• La Cocina, 201 N. Court Ave.
• Lodge on the Desert, 306 N. Alvernon Way.
• Pasco, 820 E. University Blvd.
• Primo at JW Marriott, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
• Terraza at Hacienda del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road.
• Wilko, 943 E. University Blvd.
Stores
• 17th Street Farmers Market, 840 E. 17th St.
• Food Conspiracy Co-op, 412 N. Fourth Ave.
• New Health Life Center, 4841 E. Speedway, 5612 E. Broadway.
• Time Market, 444 E. University Blvd.
Farmers markets
• Mondays: La Posada Resort, 665 S. Park Centre Ave., in Green Valley.
• Fridays: Broadway Village, 2926 E. Broadway.
• Saturdays: Plaza Palomino, 2970 N. Swan Road.
• Saturdays and Sundays: St. Philip's Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave.
