Tucson is enriched with many locally owned businesses. So many in fact it is hard to keep track of. Tucson Biz Beat salutes these locally owned businesses. In the quest to search for locally owned business, I have discovered an arena that has many locally owned businesses under one roof, or shall I say one sky. That is the farmers market.

To me, the farmers market is like a ritual. Going for my Sunday walk with live music, fresh wonderful smells, and bags filled with fresh produce. I love the Sunday Farmers market at St. Philip’s Plaza is located at 4280 N. Campbell Ave. In an hour I can walk this wonderful market with well over 40 little locally owned shops and come home with local treasures.

Where else can I go to get my fresh local produce, soaps, lotions, breads, salsa, pita chips, worms, apple juice all while listening to music, enjoying a cup of tea with a nice gourmet empanada and having my knifes sharpened?  The St. Philip’s Plaza farmers market of course.

Whether you want coffee beans, Mesquite flour tortilla, organic  and gluten free foods, goat cheese spreads, natural beef, seeds, plants, soaps, sprouts, rubs, pastries, fresh eggs, roasted chili, scones, prickly pears popsicles, homemade bread pudding, spices, and produce that is often freshly picked either that night or the morning of.

What I enjoy about farmers markets is I know the food and products are local and I am feeding into my own local economy. There is a wonderful feeling I get when I know I am giving my hard-earned money to local merchants rather than giving to big chains. I also know this is helping my local farmers to continue to grow and sell their products.

The other thing I really enjoy about local farmers markets is the quality of the product I am getting. My favorite place at the market was late the other day. They finally arrived. I caught myself helping them set up the tables so they could get going. “Thank you” the young many said to me, “We were busy picking this morning.” Now that is fresh, When my Kale is only 45 minutes old, I know the quality of my product is going to excellent. The quality of their produce is indeed amazing, however, the quality of the bakes goods is wonderful as well as the little shops that sell homemade soaps and lotions as well as oils and remedies and tinctures.

The other wonderful thing about local farmers markets is it is just a wonderful place to be. Unlike local supermarkets where there are lines, pushing and shoving, people dogging your heals and a rather uncomfortable feeling, the farmers markets are outdoors and very friendly. The merchants go out of their way to get to know you and offer you their latest sample, advice or tip. The air is normally fresh, the music live, and many familiar faces that greet you.

I love going to farmers market and I have to say that the Sunday Farmers market at St. Philip’s Plaza is my favorite, however, know there are several markets in Tucson. Jesse Owens Market on Fridays, the Saturday  Oro Valley Farmers’ Market, Tucson Farmers’ Market at Maynard’s on Saturdays, Rincon Valley farmers market on Saturdays which is a craft show as well, and the River Park farmers market is some of the local markets.

What is important is if you want high quality food at a fair price, and support local farms and business, then Tucson farmers markets is the place to go. So get your cooler and water, pack up the kids and dog and head out and support local business. So today Tucson Biz Beat salutes the local farmers markets and says thank you for keeping it homegrown and good.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 7:43 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.