TUCSON, Ariz. — On any sunny Wednesday morning, the west end of the University of Arizona Mall can be found bustling with people shopping outside in the fresh air at the UA Farmers' Market.

Eager buyers with tote bags in hand snatch up everything from Arizona-produced grapefruit and honey to tomatoes — or maybe even an all natural bar of oatmeal soap. Most are products sold at the market are free of pesticides and preservatives.

A desire for an organic lifestyle is attracting people to local plazas and parks with farmers markets. "It seems like recently organics, and the name organics, really draws people in," Tucson Community Food Bank farm volunteer Maggie Barns said.

Farmers markets are often a cheaper alternative to purchasing organic items at chain stores like organic Meccas including Aqua Vita Naturals, Food Conspiracy Co-Op, Sunflower Markets and Trader Joe's, which combine items from dozens of locations across the state.

"We sell it for a pretty reasonable prices compared to some other organic places," Barns said.

Local Farmers Markets Tuesdays Farmers Market — Community Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club Road. 8 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. 622-0525. Wednesdays Downtown Farmers Market and Arts and Crafts Mercado — Joel D. Valdez Main Library, Downtown. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 326-7810. University of Arizona — West end of the UA Mall. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 621-4550. Thursdays Sierra Vista Farmers Market — Northwest corner of Wilcox Drive and Carmichael Avenue, Sierra Vista. Noon-4 p.m. 520-378-2973. Tubac Farmers Market — Plaza de Anza, adjacent to the village of Tubac. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays. 398-2506. Fridays El Barrio Farmers Market — 1001 S. Sixth Ave. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 792-0747. El Presidio Mercado — El Presidio Park, Downtown. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 326-7810. Saturdays El Barrio Farmers Market — 1001 S. Sixth Ave. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 792-0747. Oro Valley Farmers Market — Oro Valley Town Hall, 11000 N. La Cañada Drive. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 918-9811 Plaza Palomino Saturday Market — 2970 N. Swan Road. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 320-6344. Rincon Valley Farmers Market — 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 591-2276. San Manuel Farmers Market — In front of the Community Presbyterian Church, San Manuel. 8-11 a.m. 1-520-385-4463. Sundays Civano Artisans and Farmers Market — Civano Nursery, 5301 S. Houghton Road. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 248-9218. El Barrio Farmers Market — 1001 S. Sixth Ave. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 792-0747. St. Philip's Plaza Farmers Market — 4280 N. Campbell Ave. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. 918-9811. El Barrio Farmers Market — 1001 S. Sixth Ave. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. 792-0747.

While some of the farmers market specialties like fresh apples from Wilcox's English Family Orchard are also sold at places like Whole Foods Markets, and Doctor Hummus products are available at AJ's Fine Foods, there is no middle man at farmers markets around town.

Low income families can also purchase produce at various farmers markets, from Civano Farmers and Artisans Market at 5301 S. Houghton Road to a similar one at UA, using government assistance programs.

The Tucson Community Food Bank farm is one of more than a dozen vendors participating in the new Arizona Farmers' Markets Nutrition Program, which enables low income people to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at markets.

Items sold at the food bank booth vary each week; currently pesticide free lettuce, spinach and other greens, are in season at the food banks 10-acre farm, 127375 N. Heritage Park Drive in Marana.

"The idea is that we grow organically and then we grow a diversity of things," Barns said. "When you grow a diversity of things, you're not going to get wipe outs if you have some sort of fungus that comes. It might kill some of the stuff but it won't kill all of the stuff and you don't have to use pesticides."

Some items sold at the farmers markets, like salsa, cannot be purchased through the nutrition program. Participants can only buy fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Arizona with their nutrition checks.

"The farmer's market is kind of new to people. I've had clients tell me that 'I went to the farmer's market and the carrots still had dirt,'" said program coordinator Soraya Franco. She also tells people new to the organic world that the dirty carrots can be better than the ones "waxed and polished" at the grocery store.

But if freshly picked produce — maybe with a little dirt — is not appealing, the farmers markets have other options. One of the most popular booths at the farmers markets is where RPMS Jams and Jellies owner Barbara McRae sells her organic jams, jellies, syrups and spices starting at around $4.

"We try to make a product that is good for you but still tastes good," McRae said.

The best selling product is raspberry jam. While she sells around Southern Arizona, including at the farmers markets in both Oro Valley and Tubac, her business is based off Ajo Highway at 11200 S. Sierrita Mountain Road.

"The trend is to get away from pesticides and all the additives," said McRae, who uses mostly certified organic ingredients in her products. "If you ever go to the grocery store, you'll see everything has corn syrup. It's so bad for you."

Farmers markets are much more than a place to purchase organic items. Vendors, like Native Seeds, also provide information on how to plant a garden that can produce some of the fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets around town.

Native Seeds uses its booth to sells seeds that render plants native to the Southwest.

While fall is the best season for growing produce in Southern Arizona, fruits and vegetables that are currently in season for Tucson include: cucumber, okra, pumpkins, radish and tomatillos, Native Seeds volunteer Martha Burgess said.

Native Seeds hands out a planting guide compiled by the non-profit organization Tucson Organic Gardeners, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Gardening questions can be directed to the group at 622-0525.

People can also learn about organic growing by volunteering at the food bank farm.

"It's kind of sad in a way because (organics are) becoming more of another commodity," Barns said. "People really don't understand what organic means so we're hoping with this, people understand that it's not just a name or something that costs more money."

Farmers markets are held every day except Monday throughout Southern Arizona.

Three things to try at local farmers markets
Jamie M. Blanchard	Jamie M. Blanchard	Danielle Oxman
1. Dwight English from Wilcox’s English Family Orchard makes his rounds at the local markets by giving out free samples of apples, cider and nuts. "It's a good test market here," English said. "You get to see what they like."	2. Look for Paul Smith manning the booth of Tempe-based Doctor Hummus. Smith hands out free samples of hummus, in flavors including roasted garlic and artichoke, as well as pita chips. The product sells for about $10.	3. At the UA market, dietary and nutrition students like Carman Gonzalez and Diana Perez pass out free treats including fruit salad, donated by grocery store Food City. Pick that up and a food related cross word puzzle too.