Salsa contest spices up farmers’ market
A rain shower late Saturday morning fell just in time to help out at the ninth annual Best Salsa in the ArkLa-Tex Contest at Texarkana, Texas, Farmers’ Market.
To farmers’ market Manager Holden Fleming, the rain’s timing couldn’t have been better, since the pre-shower cloud cover seem to lower the recent high temperatures.
“I think the cooler weather may have given more people reason to come out to the contest,” he said.
The contest started when customers at the market touted their own homemade salsa.
“Back in 2009, there was just some competitive talk among farmers’ market visitors about who had the best salsa and it just lead to this contest. Participation seems to grow as every year goes by and last year we had about 500 visitors come out,” Fleming said.
Contestant Nathan Austin of Texarkana, Ark., said he has always loved salsa and has made his own for years.
“This is my fifth year to compete,” Austin said. “I’ve been making salsa for the last 10 years, but I’ve been a fan of eating it all my life.”
Besides the contesting salsa chefs, the market had about 19 vendors with fresh farm produce and baked goods for sale, some vendors coming from as far away as from Atlanta and Marietta, Texas.
Vendor Anne Marie Sullivan, who owns a beef and pork ranch in Hooks, Texas, said she has been to every farmers’ market this year.
“This market is really good to have and to keep alive because it supports the community and the environment,” she said. “It’s also a healthy outlet, because everything is freshly picked.”
This year’s contest winners in the seven salsa categories are: