Everybody’s Thanksgiving Favs!

by Sarah Price

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and for the folks at the farmers’ market, Thanksgiving is a big deal.  Now, I know that some of you really love football, but when it comes down to it, the holiday is really all about food, and food is what we do best.

We all have our favorite Thanksgiving foods.  Some of them we wait all year to eat—after all, how often does anyone really cook candied yams?  We’ve come to expect the same dishes on our table year after year: turkey (of course), stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, buttered rolls and green bean casserole.  Afterward, we want pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies.

There is a reason that all of these foods have become a staple for one of America’s favorite holidays, and it’s not just tradition.  All of these foods are in season—which means, you can get them locally.  Of course, most of us head to the grocery store to prepare for the feast.  It is too easy to fill a shopping cart with cans of cranberries and pumpkin filling and boxed stuffing mix.  But why not fill a reusable bag or a basket instead, and support your local farmer?

Tucson Farmers’ Markets will have most of the ingredients you need for a memorable dinner.  During this season, our farmers bring root vegetables galore, so keep your eyes peeled for potatoes, yams, rutabagas, beets, and turnips.  They will be around every bend.  You can meet your bread needs at a variety of our bakers such as Organic Frogs or the Village Bakehouse, or go for a gluten-free stuffing with Gluten-Free Girls or  Miracle Munchies.  We’ve got our fill of pies, too—check out Big Sky Pies and Simply Gourmet.  And, who could forget the turkey?  That’s right—you can even get your big bird from the farmers’ market, it may be too late to put in your order for Thanksgiving~however, the Christmas Holiday’s are fast approaching. you can pre-order from BX Ranch or Walking J Farms, as they will go quickly.  Or, if your family prefers lamb, make sure to stop by the Van Haren Meat Co.

Remember: Thanksgiving celebrates the first successful harvest of our ancestors, long ago.  It is not always easy to grow a successful bounty, and nobody knows that better than the Tucson-area farmers who work with tough soil and arid conditions.  So this year, let’s celebrate the people who are working hard to bring their harvest to us—let’s make it a local Thanksgiving!