Earlier in the year, I spent a week in Phoenix with my mom and Annie for a warm-weather wintertime girl’s getaway. You can check out my feature on this desert city here. One day in particular during our stay stuck out the most so I thought it naturally deserved its very own blog post.
Mesa, Arizona sits just east of Phoenix and is home to a bustling agricultural environment. Thanks to the weather, they are able to share their bountiful harvest with visitors all year long. And the best way to experience it is along Mesa’s Fresh Foodie Trail. The agrotourism trail winds visitors throughout the neighboring towns of Mesa inviting foodies along a one of a kind experience. We were able to see three out of the twelve stops along the trail and it couldn’t have made for a better day!
Following along for more … and be sure to come hungry!
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Our first stop along the trail was to pay a visit to the charming Queen Creek Olive Mill. This family-owned business invites guests to tour the property, learning all about what goes into creating a bottle of extra virgin olive oil along the way.
There are ample opportunities to try the many different flavors of olive oil that the mill whips up. Plus, with a shop and Italian-inspired restaurant on site, visitors can make a whole day out of their visit.
The three of us girls were treated to the most beautiful al fresco lunch I’ve quite possibly ever had. The highlight was hands down the bruschetta. February’s flavor of the month was a grapefruit pomegranate ricotta! Yum yum yum!
Had to show off what I wore for a day spent out in the countryside! This darling dress was an Amazon-fashion find. It’s lightweight and the adorable print reminds me of vintage mailing stamps.
Shop the Look:
It definitely is all in the family at Queen Creek Olive Mill and we were fortunate enough to meet several of the owners during our visit too! A husband & wife and their adult children all have a hand in the magic that goes on behind the scenes at Queen Creek, and you can just see their love for this business in everything that they do.
Sharing a snap above of Mrs. Rea as she whips up her own natural home & body line, Olive Spa, that is sold in the shop. It includes deliciously scented lotions, candles, body oils & more many of which are olive oil-based.
Agritopia
Our next stop along the Fresh Foodie Trail was Agritopia. Agritopia is seriously a place like no other. It’s basically a modern-day agricultural community where people live, work, & play in a bustling metro-area. With a focus on family and living the simple life, I was ready to call Patrick and say … let’s move to Mesa at the end of my visit!
From the snap above you’d think we were miles off into the country right? Nope, right in the heart of Mesa!
Residents can plant their own gardens in a communal space where they are allowed to grow whatever their hearts fancy.
But the gem of Agritopia is what looks like a giant airstream called Barnone. Barnone is a craftsman community inside Agritopia where shop owners and creators collaborate in a shared-space. It’s a great place to go to find a unique gift and grab a tasty bite to eat!
The stationary shop sitting inside Barnone was my favorite! It had me wanting to send snail mail to each & every person I knew.
Schnepf Farms
Our last visit along the fresh foodie trail was to Schnepf Farms. This country chic destination basically convinced me to change into blue jeans and cowboy boots for a bit of exploring! Thank goodness we were in the midst of hotel hopping and happened to have a change of clothes on standby.
This fourth generation family farm has been in operation in Arizona for over 75 years and invites visitors to stop by and experience Arizona agriculture at its finest. There is a farm shop on site with a cute golden retriever watching over all those that enter. The grounds are almost like a chic country fairground, with endless activities for the whole family – fireworks & historical reenactments. My kinda place!!
Schnepf Farms is also the largest organic peach grower in the state and has its very own peach festival to prove it! And they’re quite the fans of festivals, y’all – hosting multiple celebrations on the property each year. We happened to be visiting just in time for the Peach Blossom Festival. The gorgeous pink flowers bloom from the peach trees each winter and are absolutely stunning in person.
adelita mia top // lucchese boots // levis jeans // straw handbag
Growing up in Tennessee, I was used to being a twenty-minute drive from some of the most beautiful countryside you’ve ever seen. In my opinion, there’s nothing better than skipping about in a wide-open field in a pair of cowboy boots. Add some fresh food produced nearby to that scenario and I’m just about in heaven!
It really was a unique opportunity to experience the agricultural lifestyle in a part of the country so different from my own. I can’t recommend a visit to at least a handful (or all) the stops along Mesa’s Fresh Foodie Trail enough!
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Thanks so much to Visit Mesa & Visit Phoenix Tourism for inviting us along on this oh-so-lovely day!
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xo, alice
