Free space for vendors

Consumers can beat the heat with a different kind of market by visiting Allen’s Organics as they host Tucson’s newest farmers market, located at 741 S. Campbell Avenue in Tucson, held every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The desire to make locally-grown, as well as organic and naturally grown produce more available and affordable to the local community spawned the idea of Allen’s Organics. In addition to the wholesale part which supplies produce to foodservice and restaurants, the company hopes to help sustain local growers by offering them an accessible local distribution hub and guaranteed outlet offering fair market value thus unlocking grower potential.

One of the benefits to vendors and growers is they can dock their produce indoors in bushels and coolers and not hang around which in turn won’t spread their time resources thin when you consider all the competing farmers markets now. Outdoor spaces are available to those food court vendors carrying the required health certificates/food permits,” said Scott Allen, operations and market manager for the company.

Both Allen and his wife Kristi LaBonte have been strawberry vendors at Tucson’s local Tanque Verde Swap Meet since the summer of 2007.

The family-owned business wants to make Allen’s Organics Farmers Market a place where vendors come and do not have to worry about making a minimum sale to cover their set up fee. Without that cost hovering over their shoulders, everyone has more fun! Times are hard and they want to help local vendors by not charging a fee; the vendors are, in turn, helping to draw customers for everyone in the market. The family hopes it will be a win/win situation for all involved.

This Sunday’s market (July 17) will have black and grey squash, melons, Armenian cucumbers, variety of tomatoes and chiles, russet potatoes, and Texas sweet onions from Tubac. On Sundays around 2 p.m., Allen fires up the grill for delicious grilled veggie samples.

Along with fresh produce that is either certified organic or certified naturally grown, local artisans sell their hand-crafted wares. Hungry shoppers can enjoy food from the food court both Fridays and Sundays.

Local vendors interested in the free set up should call Allen’s Organics office/warehouse at 520-792-2275 or visit the website for more info.

Check it out!

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 17th, 2011 at 5:54 am and is filed under Desert Locavore, Farmers Markets. Tags for this post: certified organic, sustainable produce, Tucson farmers market, Tucson organic. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.