Combining the perfect ingredients to create a made-from-scratch pie doesn’t require knowing the mathematical value of pi. But celebrating Pi Day on March 14 is the perfect equation for great-tasting dessert.

“We make a wide variety of pies from scratch,” says Eric Amadio, who owns and runs Amadio Ranch with his wife, Christina, and their young adult son and daughter. “If there’s a holiday called Pi Day, then it’s definitely an occasion to celebrate with pie.”

Amadio Ranch offers mouth-watering pies year-round including Apple, Peach, Cherry, Blueberry, Caramel Apple and Strawberry Rhubarb. For the holiday, the ovens will be baking some specialty pies, including Rhubarb, Very Berry, Buttermilk, Pecan, Bourbon Pecan, Buttermilk, Pumpkin, Chocolate Chess Pie and more. They have recently added a delicious Chicken Pot Pie to their lineup. 

Pi Day originated more than 30 years ago to pay tribute to pi, the infinite mathematical number that represents the ratio of the circumference of any circle to the diameter of that circle. (Pies are circles – another reason to eat pie on Pi Day!)

Physicist Larry Shaw started the celebration in 1988. He chose March 14 because the numerical date (3.14) represents the first three digits of pi. The date also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday.

Where and when to get your pies

Eric, Christina and everyone at Amadio Ranch are busily baking and getting pies ready in advance for the March pie date. Orders (which can be made online) will be delivered on or near March 14. Here’s the schedule for where to pick up your pre-ordered pie:

• Ahwatukee — 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 at 3930 E. Chandler Blvd.
• Uptown Farmers Market – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 14 at 5757 N. Central Ave.
• Gilbert – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, Made with Love Market, 388 N. Gilbert Road
• Chandler location – to be announced.
• Laveen – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week, Amadio Ranch Farm Store, 4701 W. Dobbins Road

Christina said that all pies are made with simple ingredients such as flour, oil, milk and salt. Fillings include fruit with sugar, flour, lemon juice and wholesome spices.

Even if you can’t make it to the Laveen location, you can still get their fresh produce and pies around the Valley. The Amadios bring the ranch to you with their mobile farm trucks at several area farmers’ markets in Phoenix, Tempe and Ahwatukee.

Find them every Friday in Ahwatukee from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Century 21 offices at 3930 E. Chandler Blvd, Phoenix; Saturdays at Uptown Farmers Market, 5757 N. Central Ave. from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.; and in Gilbert – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Made with Love Market, 388 N. Gilbert Road; or every Sunday at the 6th Street Market in Tempe from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Established nearly a decade ago, the ranch is a heritage farming venture, employing a traditional, small-family farm approach, emphasizing sustainability and all-natural farming techniques.

The farm produces heirloom vegetables, including vine ripe tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, non-GMO sweet corn, carrots, beets, gourmet onions and garlic.

There are also apricots, apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, and peaches, of course. Enough produce, in fact, to supply nearly 80 percent of the family’s needs and offer true farm-fresh produce at the family farm stand.

ABOUT AMADIO RANCH

Amadio Ranch is owned by Eric and Christina Amadio in Laveen, AZ. The family has rural roots in the Midwest, but are now firmly planted in Arizona. With a deep love of the farming life, the couple and their family have grown a local treasure in the Southwest Valley. Learn more at amadioranch.com

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Guest article by Danzeisen Dairy

Though the number has declined slightly in the past few years, there are more than 37,468 dairy farms in the United States, 95 percent of which are family-owned-and-operated. That amounts to approximately 9.31 million dairy cows in the United States! Today’s dairy farmers strive to make their farms and communities sustainable for the future. Environmentally friendly efforts involve water conservation, waste management, protection of air quality, and reduced use of conventional pesticides. And now there is recyclable milk bottles.

Milk has always been considered Mother Nature’s most perfect, natural and nutritious food source. That’s why forward-thinking families like Arizona’s local Danzeisen Dairy are repositioning themselves to match consumer trends and tastes with not only standard white milk choices, but also flavored milk such as Chocolate, Strawberry, Arizona Orange, Root Beer, and Cold Brew Coffee milk.

Starting with National Dairy Month in June and every month throughout the year, support your local dairy farmers. The next time you’re in the dairy section of your local grocer, be sure to look for the Danzeisen Dairy glass, recyclable milk bottle. Save those bottles and return to the grocer to receive your $2.00 deposit or apply it to your next purchase of Danzeisen Dairy milk. If you’re in the neighborhood or looking for a fun outing, stop in at the Danzeisen Dairy Creamery at 6024 W. Southern Avenue in Laveen to pick up your milk directly from the creamery – the Danzeisen Dairy family welcomes you!

The post June is National Dairy Month – a month-long celebration of everything dairy! appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.

The Cesar Chavez Dog Park: Large dog area will be closed for maintenance starting Monday, June 3 and will reopen on July 15. The small dog area will be closed for maintenance starting on July 15 and will reopen on Aug. 26.

The post Laveen dog park at Cesar Chavez closing for maintenance appeared first on Laveen Business Directory.