Purchasing locally grown food is a communal experience that stimulates the senses and nourishes the soul. Since childhood, my family has made supporting local farmers a priority. My father grew up on a small sustainable dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota without running water or electricity. When I was a child, I had the honor of helping to carry the oats, fill up the water troughs, pick stones out the fields, put up the hay, pick weeds, and milk the cows, among other things. When we were driving through the countryside, we were taught what types of crops were planted in the fields we passed. In the summer, when we passed a fruit or vegetable stand, we always stopped, and we ate so much fresh “damaged” sweet corn from the pile at the Libby’s plant nearby, that I’ve still had my fill.
Farmers’ markets throughout the Phoenix area are an easy way to support local businesses and local farmers. This week, we attended the Uptown Wednesday Market off of Camelback and the 51 Freeway. Purchasing locally grown food allows us to develop personal relationships with growers at farmers' markets, fostering a sense of community and connection to the sources of our food.
It was a pleasure to meet several of the vendors there most notably, Tonia, who owns TJ Farms with her partner Jesus Munoz. The Munoz family started farming 12 years ago when Tania’s son was a baby who was rolled out to the fields in a shopping cart! Her daughter, who is now grown, was nine years old at the time. Tania shared with me that she grew up on a farm in Mexico, so she had many of the skills necessary to cultivate food. She also spent several years working for Frank, who owns Crooked Sky Farms to learn the trade.
Now, the Munoz family cooperates with Frank in planting some of his acreages while working plots of land they have purchased in Waddell, Wilcox, and Duncan, Arizona. The Munoz family and their staff manually weed and irrigate their crops which are grown without the use of herbicides or pesticides. Local farmers can offer a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables, providing you with a wider range of options and the opportunity to try unique varieties. There were so many different kinds of peppers, nuts, and mushrooms, among other fruits and vegetables available from TJ Farms (Please click here for a video!). Supporting local farms, like TJ Farms, helps protect valuable farmland and green spaces in our community, contributing to the sustainability of the local food system.
It’s satisfying to purchase fresh local food like the sweet potatoes, garlic, squash, peppers, carrots, and pecans we purchased from TJ Farms. First of all, the food is beautiful. I enjoy placing it in a bowl to photograph, paint, or draw. Locally grown food has fewer steps between the farm and your plate, reducing the chances of contamination and ensuring a safer food supply. When foods are produced here in Arizona, we can have conversations with the farmers, learn about their methods, and trust in the safety of the food we eat. Locally grown food is harvested at its peak ripeness, ensuring superior flavor and nutritional value compared to produce that has traveled long distances. I also love the seasonality of the food I purchase from farmers’ markets. Choosing locally grown fruits and vegetables allows you to enjoy produce that is in season, providing a wider variety of options and more affordable prices. Buying from local farmers also keeps money within our community, benefitting the local economy in the Phoenix area, and supporting the livelihoods of local farmers.
By choosing locally grown produce, you can enjoy the benefits of fresh, flavorful food while supporting your community and the environment. Please check out the links below and explore Farmers’ Markets and farms throughout the Phoenix area.
#ArizonaFarmersMarkets #EatLocal #InvestInArizona #ArizonaRealtor
References:
https://arizonacommunityfarmersmarkets.com/
https://downtownphoenixfarmersmarket.org/
https://www.spacesofopportunity.org/
https://www.tempefarmersmarket.com/
https://getlocalarizonaevents.com/Saturdaymarket/
http://www.farmingwithgrandma.com/
https://farmersmarket-northscottsdale.com
https://www.facebook.com/McDowellMountainRanchFarmersMarkets
https://www.gcsfarmersmarket.com/
