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Hamburgers are almost as American as corn on the cob and apple pie and we the people, love our burgers.  New research released by Technomic, Inc., a company that works with the food industry, shows that almost half of Americans eat a burger once a week.  This is an increase of more than 10% since 2009 and good news for Arizona cattle ranchers.

Part of the increase is attributed to increases in fast food sales, but it is also due to increased availability of beef with healthy attributes.  In recent years, more and more consumers have cried out for lean beef.  Ranchers have answered this call, filling the demand, and making hamburgers accessible to health conscious consumers.

Whether you like your burgers best at a barbecue or if you prefer to swap cheddar for brie, Arizona offers a wealth of local ingredients to make the best burgers around.  If burgers are on the menu this week and you are looking for a little something different, try the recipe for Sonoran Burgers on Fill Your Plate and bring some Arizona heat to your burger.

All the ingredients you need for this delicious dinner can be found by visiting a few of our Farm Bureau members.

Start with ground beef from Arizona Legacy Beef in Humboldt.  Their wholesome, 100% natural beef comes from cattle born and raised on their ranch.  They offer 90% lean ground beef and can be reached at 928.632.8979 for more information.

Top your burger with a slice of Arizona made cheddar cheese from Milk N More, the United Dairy Association’s shop in Tempe.  If you want to spice up your burger even more, swap the cheddar for a piece of pepper jack which is also available at this one of a kind shop.  You can also find cheese curds, several varieties of block cheese, and the freshest milk off the farm.  Call Milk N More at 480-968-3992 for details.

The next ingredient you will need is a handful of fresh green chilies which can be purchased at Chile Acres in Tonopah.   In addition to offering more than 15 varieties of chili peppers, Chile Acres sells goat’s milk, goat cheese, a selection of gluten free grains, and farm fresh eggs.  Chile Acres can be reached at 623.341.0869.

To balance out the heat of the peppers, grab some fresh, juicy tomatoes from Big Happy Farm in Mesa.  They grow all natural vegetables.  To take advantage of their tomatoes, visit their stand at the farmer’s market in Mesa, Scottsdale, or Phoenix.  For more information call them at 602.290.5067.

Finish off this fantastic burger with a leaf of lettuce from Whipstone Farm in Paulden.  They offer a variety of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables.  In addition to vegetables, they distribute their herbs and cut flowers through farmer’s markets and a CSA subscription program.  Reach Whipstone Farm at 928-636-6209 for details.

All that’s left now is to find a soft bun to house your burger.  This is just one example of how local ingredients can come together to create a delicious dinner.  For more recipes ideas or to locate other local producers, visit Fill Your Plate provided by the Arizona Farm Bureau.

Source

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/latest/Study-shows-US-burger-market-sizzling–127329483.html

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