October 15, 2015 / Modified oct 16, 2015 8:21 a.m.

Going Native: Showcasing the Gourmet in Heritage Foods

Native Seeds/SEARCH, Friends of Tucson's Birthplace host local produce fest.

Harvest picnic
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Niethammer

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Native Seeds/SEARCH and the Friends of Tucson's Birthplace have teamed up to host a farm-to-table harvest picnic at the Mission Garden this Sunday.

Carolyn Niethammer, a board member with Native Seeds/SEARCH, said the event will showcase the fruits and vegetables that have long thrived in the hot and dry climate of the Sonoran Desert.

Some of Tucson's best-known chefs are pitching in to prepare tepary salads, corn and tomato casseroles, heritage vegetable chowders and heritage wheat breads.

Among them are Janos Wilder from Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails, Doug Levy from Feast, Chris Bianco from Pizzeria Bianco, Kris Vrolijk from Proper and Kelzi Bartholomaei from Mother Hubbard's.

Roger Pfeuffer, co-chairman of the Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, said many of the plants that flourish in the Mission Garden today - that produce the bounty that picnic goers will feast on - are there because of Native Seed/SEARCH.

"Because they are the protector and the provider of these heritage seeds nationwide – worldwide for that matter," he said.

Niethammer said the picnic will be a celebration of the produce that can grow in the ground literally beneath our feet.

The picnic starts at 4 p.m. Sunday Oct. 18 at 929 W. Mission Lane. Tickets are $75. Click here for more information.

MORE: Culture, Food, News, Tucson
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