Taste of the Market

Heirloom Farmers Markets began the weekly educational program Taste of the Market (TotM) in October 2018 at Rillito Park Farmers Market (4502 N. 1st Ave). Sponsored by Arizona Complete Health, TotM is a weekly helping of food literacy and education, which enables market customers to learn about the healthy, whole, and local foods at the farmers market. By engaging visitors in an educational experience, including a taste test of fresh foods, TotM empowers individuals to choose foods that nourish their bodies while supporting small-scale local agriculture and local food producers. Each week’s TotM has a theme in food literacy that teaches about food production or preparation, allowing all visitors to directly interact with food. TotM is sustained by community partnerships with organizations that work for the health of the Tucson community. By fostering positive experiences with healthy foods for customers of all socio-economic backgrounds, TotM aims to bring greater holistic health through education to the members of the Tucson food system.

TotM directly supports local farmers and food producers by utilizing their seasonal goods in taste tests, encouraging participants to understand the harvest that is available to them and feel more comfortable purchasing new vegetables. TotM increases the visibility of local products by providing a rotating selection of seasonal foods for sampling, making them available to thousands of visitors each week. In turn, TotM serves to take pressure off of local food producers facing challenges in acquiring sampling permits. All samples are incorporated into the food literacy lessons and will further the mission of TotM.

If you are interested in hosting or partnering with TotM, email [email protected] to learn more.

This program is possible through generous support by Arizona Complete Health.