The nonprofit Tucson City of Gastronomy (TCOG) just announced a call for nominations for the second annual Southern Arizona Food Heroes.

This year’s awards have two categories: “Food Visionary” and “Jim Griffith Foodways Keeper.”

“For the second year, we are partnering with Si Charro, the Southwest Folklife Alliance, and the University of Arizona Southwest Center to recognize people who are teaching the next generation the traditional food knowledge and cooking skills that embody the heritage of this region, and others showing us ways to a better food future,” said Jonathan Mabry, TCOG’s Executive Director.

These awards, which carry a cash prize of $1,500 for the first-place winners, honor the dedicated people shaping and preserving Southern Arizona’s food cultures.

“We are asking for nominations of people whose valuable contributions looking to the past and the future of our food should be more widely known and appreciated,” said Mabry.  

TCOG will showcase first and second-place winners via its website, social media, and events.

The award ceremony will be held at Kennedy Park on Saturday, April 13 during the Pueblos del Maíz festival.  

Food Visionary Awards

The Food Visionary Awards are a partnership between TCOG and Si Charro to recognize Southern Arizona people helping us reimagine our relationships with food and creating paths to a positive food future.

The 2024 awards will focus on Southern Arizona farmers and gardeners using sustainable growing methods, applying traditional knowledge, sustaining heritage crops, involving young people, and sharing expertise with the community. Nominees must meet more than one of these criteria.

The first-place winner will receive a cash award of $1,500 from Carlotta Flores of Si Charro

Submit your nominations by Sunday, March 31.

The Jim Griffith Foodways Awards

TCOG partners with the Southwest Folklife Alliance for the “Jim Griffith Foodways Keeper” award which is a tribute to anthropologist and folklorist Jim Griffith (1935-2021). For years, Griffith supported home cooks who have sustained the food heritage and culinary traditions of the Arizona-Sonora borderlands.

The award recognizes Southern Arizona non-professional home cooks and food artisans who are helping to keep our food traditions alive by using heritage ingredients and cooking techniques unique to this region. Additionally, they share their traditional food knowledge with the community.

The first-place winner will receive a cash award of $1,500 from the University of Arizona Southwest Center.  

Submit your nominations by Sunday, March 31.

Nominations will be reviewed by a committee and announced in early April. For any questions, contact TCOG at  tucsoncog@gmail.com. For more information, visit tucson.cityofgastronomy.org.

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