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Katrina's Homemade Salsa is known for its namesake salsa, but the company also makes tamales that are the perfect foundation for its popular tomato concoction. The tamales can be ordered hot ($4) or cold ($3.50) at growers markets throughout the Rogue Valley. Order it hot and a market stand worker will pluck a corn husk-wrapped tamale from a steaming kettle, peel away part of the husk with tongs and douse the tamale inside with salsa and a drizzle of sour cream. For the uninitiated, avoid the kind of gaffe made by President Gerald Ford in 1976 when he made a stop in San Antonio, Texas, and took a bite out of a tamale — corn husk and all. Although his hostess stopped him and removed the corn husk before he could go on, Ford was remembered thereafter for "The Great Tamale Incident." The husk serves as a natural wrapper for corn-based dough surrounding a tamale's filling. Unlike a tortilla, the dough crumbles easily and needs the corn husk to hold the tamale together before it's eaten. Katrina's has a wide variety of tamales for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. The Green Chile Chicken and Red Chile Chicken tamales have hearty amounts of shredded chicken inside. Despite their names, neither is particularly spicy. Like popcorn that gains its flavor from butter and salt, the tamales are the base for Katrina's salsa — which comes in mild, medium and spicy so market-goers can customize their tamale. Another option for carnivores is Red Chile Pork, while vegetarians can choose from Spinach Feta, Black Bean Mango or Red Veggie. The Spinach Feta tamale is stuffed with spinach, with the feta cheese adding protein, flavor and some fat to make the tamale a filling choice. I'm a fan of black bean burritos and tamales, but would prefer Katrina's Black Bean Mango tamale to be made with regular tomato-based salsa inside rather than mango salsa. For people who want to take cold tamales home to eat later, the cold tamales come individually wrapped. Katrina's offers discount deals of six for $20 or a dozen for $35. Just remember to not go away without picking up a tub of salsa, which comes in a 14-ounce container for $3.50 or a 24-ounce container for $4. Remarkably fresh, Katrina's salsa puts jarred salsa to shame and beats most house-made restaurant salsas. It's made with fresh tomatoes, tomato puree, onions, jalapeño peppers, cilantro, garlic, tomatillos, fresh lime, spices and salt. Katrina's salsa is not only the perfect topper for tamales, it's great with tortilla chips. Thirsty visitors to the market can get a cup of strawberry lemonade for $2 that is made with real strawberries. Based in Phoenix, Katrina's sets up stands on Saturdays at the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market at The Commons, located at the intersection of Sixth and Bartlett Streets in Medford, as well as at the Grants Pass Growers Market in a parking lot at the corner of Fourth and F Streets. The Medford market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., while the Grants Pass market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Katrina's is at the Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market at the National Guard Armory, 1420 E. Main St., Ashland. Katrina's is at the growers market in Hawthorne Park, 501 E. Main St., Medford, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .