Contributed article
SAFFORD — The 2025 NatureSweet SalsaFest will debut a new competition this year: the SalsaFest Professional Challenge, giving home-based salsa makers who sell their products a chance to compete for $2,500 in cash prizes.
“I want to say, seeing the entries already, we’re going to have salsa this year,” said Chamber Board President Torey Cranford.
The Professional Challenge will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, on the Safford City Hall lawn in downtown Safford. Prizes include $1,000 for Best Salsa Overall, $500 for Best Red, $500 for Best Green and $500 for Best Presentation.
“The SalsaFest Professional Challenge celebrates the creativity and dedication of local salsa makers who are building businesses one batch at a time,” said Vance Bryce, executive director of the Graham County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s an opportunity to honor their craft and give them a bigger stage at SalsaFest.”
The new division joins SalsaFest’s amateur contests, live mariachi music, food vendors, arts and crafts and family entertainment. The festival is a staple of Arizona’s fall events and attracts visitors from across the Southwest.
More information, including competition entry forms and the full festival schedule, is available at www.AZsalsafest.com.
