11 September 2026
2026-09-11 11:09:00
Matt Valderrama-Svee
COMPETITORS STILL HAVE TIME TO ENTER NATURESWEET SALSAFEST 20
Registration remains open through Sept. 21 for restaurants, cottage food vendors and amateur salsa makers
SAFFORD, Ariz. — Sept. 10, 2026 — Salsa makers still have time to enter the competitions at the 20th Annual NatureSweet SalsaFest, scheduled for Sept. 25–26 at the Salsa Competition Zone presented by Gila Valley SMI on the Graham County Courthouse Lawn, located at 800 W Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546.
Restaurants, cottage food vendors, home cooks, families and culinary hobbyists may register for one of three competition divisions:
• The Taste of the Trail Restaurant Competition is on Friday, Sept. 25.
• The Cottage Vendors Competition is on Saturday, Sept. 26.
• The Amateur SalsaFest Challenge Competition is for home cooks, families, community groups and culinary hobbyists on Saturday and is also on Sept. 26.
Registration remains open until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. Walk-in and day-of registrations will not be accepted.
Restaurant participation is complimentary. Cottage vendor and amateur registration is $10 per entry. Competitors can review requirements and register at https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/naturesweet-salsafest-20-competitor-registration.
Each division will include blind judging and a People’s Choice vote by festival attendees. Judges will score entries for taste, texture and consistency, originality and overall “wow factor.” Attendees will be able to vote with their phones.
Competition awards include:
• Best Overall Salsa, sponsored by Freeport-McMoRan and presented by Forever Sweet Wedding Design and Rentals
• Best Red Salsa, sponsored by American Southwest Credit Union
• Best Green Salsa, sponsored by Savage
• Best Presentation, sponsored by Keyhole Properties
• People’s Choice awards selected by festival attendees
A $1,000 Best Overall award will be presented in each competition division. Additional category prizes will include $500 awards for Best Red Salsa and Best Green Salsa, and a $500 presentation award.
The amateur competition will take place in the Food City Salsa Making Zone, presented by Cricket Insurance. Contestants will prepare their salsa entirely on-site, allowing visitors to watch recipes come together before public tasting begins. Every registered amateur team will receive a $100 Food City gift card to help cover ingredient costs.
Questions about registration, competition rules or contestant coordination should be directed to Gila Valley SMI President, Mia Sweet, at president.
All registered competitors are invited to attend the SalsaFest Competitor Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the General Services Building, 921 W Thatcher Boulevard, Safford, Arizona 85546. Participants may review event procedures with competition leaders. The session will be recorded for registered competitors who cannot attend.
Division-specific preparation, permitting, food-safety and equipment requirements are included in the official registration materials. Competitors are encouraged to review those requirements carefully before festival weekend.
NatureSweet SalsaFest 20 is hosted by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce. The competitions are being held with support from the City of Safford, NatureSweet, Freeport-McMoRan, American Southwest Credit Union, Keyhole Properties, Savage, Food City, Cricket Insurance, Forever Sweet Wedding Design and Rentals, Kempton Chevrolet, and Double R Communications.
