Tucson loves markets.
From craft markets to oddities markets, Tucson has a soft spot for them all. Of course, we can’t forget one of the first types of markets to land in Tucson: the farmers market. Tucsonans have been picking up fresh produce at local farmers markets for decades.
Here are a few local farmers markets to check out in Tucson and the surrounding area (listed in alphabetical order). Plus, a couple of other produce resources to keep in mind!
Ajo Farmers Market & Cafe
Although the Ajo Farmers Market & Cafe is temporarily closed due to “issues with kitchen appliances,” according to their social media pages, we’ve decided to keep them on the list as a resource for when they are operating once again.
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Check out the Ajo CSA for other fresh produce options.
Heirloom Farmers Markets
Various locations, see below
Heirloom Farmers Markets are some of the more popular farmers markets around town. They tend to be larger and have multiple locations, including in Oro Valley and Green Valley.
Most Heirloom Farmers Markets are already following summer hours, so make sure to check out their updated hours in the fall.
Udall Park, 7202 E. Tanque Verde Road; 8 a.m. to noon, Fridays
Rincon Valley, 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail; 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays
Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave; 8 a.m. to noon, Sundays
Oro Valley, 10901 N. Oracle Road; 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays
Green Valley, 101 S. La Cañada Dr.; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (8 a.m. to noon, starting May 1), Wednesdays
Visit their website for more information.
Early morning customers peruse all there is to offer at The Heirloom Farmer’s Market at Rillito Park, 4502 N. First Ave.
Merchant’s Garden
Merchant’s Garden isn’t your traditional farmers market. The aquaponics farm operation hosts a weekly drive-thru market where you can pick up items like lettuce, chives and other greens.
The drive-thru “farm stand” runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Check out their Instagram for more information.
O’odham Farmers Market
Sells District Office, State Route 86 Mile Post 112, 7, Sells
Find produce and more from “local farmers, ranchers and wild food foragers” at the O’odham Farmers Market in Sells, according to their website. You can also find art, like paintings and handmade jewelry, from local Indigenous artists at this market.
The markets typically fall on Fridays and run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., however, those hours could change during the summer months.
Visit the O’odham Farmers Market Instagram page for the latest updates.
PLAZA Mobile Market
The PLAZA Mobile Market brings fresh fruits and vegetables to Tucson’s south side community. Find this mobile market set up outside the Valencia Library from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays.
Tucsonans can also pick up some bread loaves from Barrio Bread.
Check out the PLAZA Mobile Market website for more information.
Alina Alderete reaches for a tomato as her grandmother, Rebecca Castro, watches during the weekly Plaza Mobile Market, located at the Valencia Library.
Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market
MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona’s Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market aims to “support local farmers and farmworkers, provide equitable access to healthy, locally-grown food, and create vibrant community spaces for our neighbors to connect,” according to their website.
Plus, the market often hosts cooking demonstrations and provides food samples.
The market runs from 3-6 p.m. Thursdays. Starting in May through September, those hours will adjust to 4-7 p.m.
Visit the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market website for more information.
Tucson Village Farm Market
Tucson Village Farm, 2201 E. Roger Road
Tucson Village Farm’s Tuesday Market includes a variety of fresh produce grown on the farm and even homemade goodies like focaccia bread, pizza dough and chocolate chip cookies.
The market runs from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays at Tucson Village Farm’s “big farm” on Roger Road near the windmill.
Check out Tucson Village Farm’s Instagram page for more information.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are always available at the Heirloom Farmer's Market at Jesse Owens Park.
Other fresh produce resources
Borderlands Produce Rescue’s Produce on Wheels Without Waste (P.O.W.W.O.W)
Borderlands’ Produce on Wheels Without Waste is an Arizona-based produce redistribution program that partners with nonprofits, including right here in Tucson.
You can often find them at local churches, doing drive-thru style produce pickups for a minimum $15 donation.
For a calendar of upcoming events, visit their website.
Tucson CSA
Tucson CSA operates on a membership-based model. With a subscription to Tucson CSA, members can “sign up for a six- or 12-week non-refundable subscription of seasonal veggie shares (seven to eight items weekly) from local farms at $26/week,” according to their website. Then locals can pick up their veggies during an allotted pick-up time.
There aren’t any subscription openings at the moment, but Tucsonans can join the waitlist.
For more information about Tucson CSA, check out their website.
Have a favorite farmers market that didn’t make the list? Send me an email at everdugo@tucson.com so we can keep this list updated. 🙂
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Elvia Verdugo
Community Sports Editor
