More prepared food than fresh apricots

I really wanted apricots to make a rustic tart and hoped that someone at the Rillito Farmers Market had some. After all, apricots, peaches and plums were now showing up in the big box grocery stores and TJ’s. Buying apricots from a local farmer was my first choice, however, because stone fruits grow well in the desert and locally-grown should be more flavorful–right? Well, it was not to be.

Actual local farmers with local produce–mostly vegetables that appeared to be wilting in the heat–were in a minority at the Rillito Market. That was no surprise since the recent heat wave destroyed many Arizona gardens. And I didn’t find anyone with a good selection of stone fruits.

People selling prepared food definitely predominated with foods ranging from yummy churros to Turkish sandwiches to vegan crepes to eat under the shade trees by the bike path. There also were prepared foods to take home, among them olive oil, French bread, eggs and elderberry syrup. A couple of soap makers and one potter rounded out the array of vendors.

So I decided to forget about the apricot tart and take a few photos of the market and a surprising, new addition for bicyclists on The Loop which runs beside it.

It was a hot Sunday morning but plenty of Tucsonans were out shopping for food from local vendors.

I had barely entered the Rillito Market when I overheard a discussion between a vendor and a food inspector, in the white pants with a laptop. The vendor said she’d been inspected 2 days earlier at another market and passed. The inspector replied that inspections are for each market — not just each vendor. I didn’t wait to hear any more. I assume the inspection went well.

A few steps further and there was a potter displaying her wares. It was interesting to see use of art work derived from Native American rock art on the vase. I didn’t ask why.

Local beef…hmm. I’m not much of a beef eater, but Grassfed Natural Beef sounds pretty good especially in a burger BBQed out on the patio.

The Churro Lady was selling a lot more than churros but the tempting fragrance of churros filled the air around her booth.

What you could do is take that churro or French crepe or other prepared food and come sit under the dappled shade of the mesquite trees at the side of the bike path where “hot” became only “very warm”. Dining al fresco Tucson-style!

These two children were jumping from shadow to shadow on the sidewalk that runs through the middle of the market. Behind them are cases of grassfed lamb from the BX Ranch in Cochise.

Carol, the Alpine Goat Girl, was selling skin creams and soaps. Click through to see the Sugar Skull soaps from Denise, the Desert Rain soap maker, in a separate booth.

I may try the market again in Fall or early Winter after the worst of the heat has passed to see what it is like then. No apricots, of course, at that time of year, but perhaps some other surprises like this monumental sculpture that now arches over the Loop bike path just before you enter the market. It’s new-ish.

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The monsoon rains have come and according to the KVOA tv weatherman Tucson has already received above average rainfall. We also had a haboob two days ago.