Santa Cruz River Farmers Market Mesquite Milling & Pancake Chowdown

The Santa Cruz River Farmers' Market is located along the Santa Cruz River just west of historic downtown Tucson and within walking distance from several neighborhood markets and restuarants on Grande Avenue. The Market takes place Thursday evenings and is where customers can find a fresh selection of locally grown produce, plants, flowers and honey including traditional and cuturally valued foods including Mesquite flour.  Every fall a community hammermill visits the market and the public can bring their own pods to be milled and enjoy meequite pancakes.   Velvet Mesquite is native to the Santa Cruz River Valley and Sonora desert region and has been used for centuries by Native Americans.  Today, the milling of mesquite pods has been restored and is conveniently milled using a gas powered hammermill that is attached to a trailer.  It visits local farmers' markets, community gardens, and other food communities in Southern Arizona.  It is accessible to anyone with pods.