Here We Grow Again! 10 Years!

The Oro Valley Farmers Market will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in the upcoming weeks.  We are truly blessed that the community of Oro Valley has embraced the farmers market as part of their weekend routines–a gathering place where they purchase fresh food for their families, meet their neighbors for a cup of coffee and bring their visitors for a taste of local cuisine.  Through the years we have seen vendors come and go, many of whom had developed long-lasting friendships with their customers.  This is a true sign of trust and commitment amongst our community. We want to thank Ainsley Reader, the former Director for the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation division, and her staff for having the vision of what a farmers market would add to the community, as well as all the various town councils who have supported us through the years, and whose guidance and vision have helped us sustain and grow the farmers market.

This weekend we are moving the market from beautiful Town Hall to a serene location at the base of the Catalina Mountains-Steam Pump Ranch. It is a pastoral site that suits our agricultural heritage mission and aligns with our directive of fresh local food, looking back to a time when neighbors bought and sold their fresh goods to the people of the surrounding area.  At Steam Pump Ranch, we hope to be able to expand the market. Oro Valley is surrounded by rich farmland and vast ranch land.  We want to ensure that all that fresh local food is available to our neighbors and to keep our food systems in force.

It is our hope that the Oro Valley community will embrace this move, see our expansion and continue to shop at the farmers market. Be on the lookout for new and exciting events at Steam Pump Ranch, together we farmers, ranchers, small micro businesses and customers will insure that Oro Valley maintains that quaint farming tradition of a true hometown farmers market.

Sometimes you’ve got to look back to move forward, see you at the market!