Heirloom Farmers Markets Tomato Basil Festival July 18-19

Tucson Foodie • Written by Theresa Delaney • 07/15/15

Summer in Tucson means more than high temperatures and spontaneous monsoon hail storms. It is also prime time for many of the year’s best fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Heirloom Farmers Markets is celebrating the age-old culinary combination of sun-ripened tomatoes and sweet basil with the Tomato Basil Festival. Enjoy the season’s finest, grown and paired by local purveyors, on Saturday, July 18, at the Oro Valley Farmers Market, or Sunday, July 19, at Rillito Park Farmers Market.

While a classic Caprese salad is always delicious, take advantage of the festival to mix it up. Grab a loaf of basil and sun-dried tomato bread and a jar of tomato jam for flavor-packed sandwiches, chilled gazpacho for a refreshing lunch, basil-drenched olive oil for your pasta, or even basil infused soaps. Gather new recipes and take home fresh bundles of basil and bags of heirloom tomatoes to come up with new combinations.

On Sunday at Rillito Park, visit the Chef Demonstration Booth to sample tomato basil flavor combinations and watch demonstrations starting at 10am. Plus, enjoy live music from Paige Anderson & The Fearless Kin from Grass Valley, California.

Story: https://tucsonfoodie.com/2015/07/15/heirloom-farmers-markets-tomato-basil-festival-july-18-19/