We recently interviewed Joe Dueck of Camp Grounds Tea and Coffee, that dude in the trailer!
Prescott Farmers Market: How long you have lived in Arizona?
Joe: I’ve lived in Arizona, off and on, for about 16 years. My wife Lanna and I, and our two boys, love this little mountain town. It’s the perfect place for Jolene.
Who is Jolene?
Our trailer is named “Jolene” after a song (no, not the famous Dolly one!) by Ray Lamontagne because it kept repeating on my playlist while I rebuilt her from the wheels up. It’s been just over a year of hard work getting Jolene in tip top shape. I found her in a junkyard in Winslow, Arizona (yup, I took a pic on the corner) and towed her home. The boys wanted a grand tour and it took about three seconds. The wheels were two different sizes; all four top corners were rotten; the front window was cracked; and she had some rodent renters. But it was still love at first sight! Even while I rolled her through the pines and high desert I was day dreaming of all we could do together: from recipes to regular customers, I knew we could become a great part of the community.
What kind of products do you sell at your booth?
We offer whole bean coffee; locally roasted, organic and fair trade.
The Trailer Blend is an organic whole bean coffee that’s a medium-dark blend of Indonesian and Mexican beans making it a perfectly balanced morning brew.
The Columbia Tulimo is a South American coffee which is fully washed and dried in the sun making it a low impact process. It’s also grown in a multi-crop format alongside bananas, corn, beans and sugarcane making this an earth-friendly choice.
Kenya Select is an African coffee boasting notes of citrus and bergamot with hints of vanilla. A great choice for those that enjoy fruit-forward flavors.
We also offer several varieties of coffee and tea drinks such as brewed, lattes and hot chocolate. Iced or hot, they are all delicious!
How long have you been a vendor at PFM?
I’ve been in business and a PFM vendor since December 2019. Due to COVID-19 and the closure of the walk-about market in March, I’ve only been able to sell coffee beans at the market. It’s pretty difficult to sell lattes online!
How do your products differ from store-bought products?
All of our syrups are made in house from scratch with organic ingredients, many of which are local. The coffee is all fair trade/organic and small batch roasted right here in Prescott. People stand in line for our two most popular items the Wilderness Latte (with aromas of juniper and pine mixed with subtle sage and citrus flavors) and the Lavender Honey Latte (just as sweet and floral as you’d imagine) the same way some folks wait for the latest iPhone!
What’s special about your business?
I mean, we sell coffee out of a vintage camper trailer. So that’s pretty rad!
Why is supporting local agriculture and business important to you?
It’s important because it keeps my family connected to the community we live in. It also offers the freshest food options with fun little perks and quirks that the farmers grow and sometimes give out to try. Also, when you know the person that made that set of silver earrings or knit that hat, you’ve got a story and a new friend.
What is your favorite market memory?
I’d say meeting Pam and Rich at their Edible Earth booth. We had just moved to Prescott after traveling through South East Asia and found out Pam was from Thailand and that the two of them, had met over there. It was so cool to swap stories and feel connected in our new community with like minded souls.
What is your favorite product to buy from another PFM vendor?
Probably the kombucha from Edible Earth and any honey I can get my hands on! And all the produce… how do I pick just one!?
Do you vend at any other markets?
No, we aren’t at any other markets; however, you can find me and Jolene on the square in downtown Prescott, typically at the corner of Goodwin and Montezuma, Thursdays through Sundays from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
Do you have a final message to our PFM customers?
I think the market is so much more then just buying food and fun things. It connects you to your community by not just eating the plants grown in the dirt out your back door, but also buying, sharing life with the farmers, ranchers, artists, and makers that saturate this area.
How can we find you on social media?
Visit our website and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up on our latest beverage creations and locations.