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Tucson's Farmers' Markets
It was hot outside. With the drought, plants suffered and the local wildlife attacked the vegetable garden with a vengeance. I had little to show for my work except for a few severely sunburned and half eaten tomatoes. I craved home grown tomatoes, a few summer squash and maybe some green beans and peppers. I didn't want to go to the grocery store. I wanted to go where produce was piled on a table, prices wouldn't be marked and the light was provided by sunshine and not fluorescent lights. Tucson has its versions of Farmers' Markets but it was difficult to distinguish between farmer and entrepreneur in early June.

Two of the Farmers' Markets are set up in either the court yards or plazas of shopping centers. A third is located in and around an old barn on the way to Colossal Cave. Although there was produce available in June I'd be skeptical of where the farm was located. Some of the lettuce I saw didn't look all that good. Many of the tomatoes, both green and red, came from greenhouse production. Yes, they are pretty and keep well but they still don't have the flavor of garden grown tomatoes. On Father's Day, June 16 there was a local backyard gardener at the St. Phillip's Plaza Farmers' Market with a table of "flawed" looking but probably great tasting home grown tomatoes. There were home grown purple and green bush beans along with other locally grown backyard garden produce.

Some of the items that were available at the Farmers' Markets in June, 2002.
Rincon Valley Farmers' Market 12000 Old Spanish Trail Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm	St. Phillip's Plaza Farmers' Market 4380 N. Campbell Sundays 8 am - 1 pm	Plaza Palomino Food Faire 2970 N. Swan Saturdays 10 am - 2 pm
Veggies: carrots, potatoes, hot house tomatoes, peppers, onions, eggplant green beans, lettuce, summer squash, etc. Pecan pie Cactus Pastries Bread Herb and vegetable plants Garden art Honey Art work Jewelry Pet food Tamales Yard sale Barbecue	Home grown seasonal vegetables: beans, squash, eggplant, tomatoes, greens, etc. Coffee Salsa Herbals Homemade breads and pastries Pies; Cactus Native desert plants Herb plants Flavored vinegars Herbs Homemade jams Salad seasonings Dried gourds	Veggies: cantaloupe, bright lights Swiss chard, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, cucumbers, etc, Bread Salsa Cactus Rose plants Tamales Emu products Soap Honey

A farmers' market should be seasonal bringing in the produce from the surrounding areas that's maturing at the current time of year. Certainly as the farms start producing in the Wilcox area maybe more locally grown produce will show up in the local farmers' markets. But even if you can't find the fruit and vegetables you're looking for, the outdoor markets are a great way to spend a morning as you browse among the vendors. There's also plenty of free parking at any of the three locations.

I purchased three locally grown potted cacti. I had to ask the vendor to label the plants so I knew what I had bought and questioned him where they should be grown in the garden. I also picked up a half dozen frozen tamales at another site and eyed the pecan pies and home baked bread repeatedly.

Rincon Valley Farmers' Market
	The barn by the side of the road is the home of the Rincon Valley farmers market.		Enchanted Hills Cactus Nursery selling south American and native Sonoran cacti.
Bins of guess the price produce.		The look perfect greenhouse grown tomatoes.

St. Phillip's Plaza Farmers' Market
Breads and pastries available for your Sunday brunch or dinner.		Real, less than perfect looking, but great tasting, home grown tomatoes.
	Mesquite trees offer shoppers and vendors a break from the summer sun.		Sounds of flowing water from a fountain while you browse.

Plaza Palomino Gourmet Food Faire
	Vendors set up their tables and umbrellas around the courtyard fountain.		Plaza Palomino sign faces Swan.
Produce, eggs, and honey for sale under the arch near the fountain.		Misting system helps keep vendors and shoppers cool during the hot Saturdays of summer.

You don't have to visit all the farmers' markets although I must admit I now have a favorite. It's close to home, there's plenty of vendors, and they had what I wanted. I also noticed some of the farmers' market vendors that were found at one market on Saturday could also be found at another selling their wares on Sunday.

So if you happen to visit one or two of the local farmers markets and you spot someone with a bag of home grown tomatoes in one hand, a loaf of bread under an arm, and a pie in the other hand, it could be the Tucson Gardener. (2002)

Editor's note: Farmers' Markets have become increasingly popular since this article. Some have come and gone while many new ones have opened around the Tucson area including downtown Tucson, Oro Valley and others. Check the Arizona Daily Star's website Calendar for a list of area Farmers Markets days and times.