Perhaps the best way to get a taste of Arizona's food is at the state's many food festivals. A sampling:

Yuma Lettuce Days Festival, Yuma

Yuma is a salad bowl of the state and the Lettuce Days festival is a celebration of winter-grown leafy greens. Pick up your own seeds, hop aboard a bus for a farm field tour and belly up to the Southwest's largest salad bar.

Pumpkin And Chili Festival, Queen Creek

Phoenix Magazine has said the Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf Farms during weekends in October is the state's best family fall experience. The farm celebrates 65 years of brining produce to the area with hay rides, 10-acre maze, carnival attractions, pig races and fireworks.

West of Western Culinary Festival, Phoenix

About 60 of the state's best chefs converge for an event The Arizona Republic calls "an upscale chef's dream come true" and the "premier culinary event in Arizona." It's hosted by the Phoenix Art Museum, which boasts 100 wines in addition to fine food and "the ambiance of a sophisticated garden party."

Raw Spirit Festival, Prescott

The festival's Web site sums up what you need to know about the 2009 event at Watson Lake Park as the "world's leading healthy-living raw vegan eco-peace celebration." Event organizers aim to "educate humanity" about the health benefits of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and practices including organic gardening, yoga, sunshine, eco-sustainability, and "caring for each other."

My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge, Tempe

Seventy-five chefs compete in this event in April at Tempe Beach Park, a celebration of the nation's No. 1 condiment. Enjoy live music and the Cazadores Margarita Mix-Off featuring 20 bartenders vying for best-margarita honors.

Great Arizona Beer Festival, Tempe

OK, so it's not a food festival, but there is plenty of tasting to be done in Tempe Beach Park in March with 100 specialty and microbrews available. Others of note: Flagstaff's Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival in June and Great Tucson Beer Festival in September.