It’s Saturday morning, the sun is shining and at 8:30 a.m. the opening bell of the Portland State University Farmers Market rings. For many it is a weekly ritual; thermos in hand, bags shoved under the arm, they scour the stalls for farm-direct produce, meat, cheese, mushrooms, plants, flowers and baked goods. But for me and for many other Portlanders, it’s not just about buying groceries, it’s about finding that connection to your food and knowing the faces that grow and harvest what you eat. I love chatting with Roger and Norma from Springwater Farm as my husband selects morels, shiitakes and white truffles from their overflowing baskets. Or hearing from Leslie at Viridian Farms how her strawberries are doing. Last weekend we learned that Maryhill Orchard would be getting peaches in this weekend; so we were able to plan our July 4th BBQ dessert ahead of time. Which is the other great thing about the farmers market, each week brings the surprise of new produce as the weather warms! The Portland Farmers Market site touts the PSU market as a “landmark Portland experience” for locals and tourists alike. And a recent study by the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability reported that farmers markets account for 3 percent of annual countywide consumer purchases of fruit and vegetables with a $17 million regional economic impact. Proof that people are going to the markets in droves and doing a larger percentage of their shopping directly from the farmers. Living in a state surrounded by fertile agricultural land gives us all amazing accessibility to fresh produce and farm direct products. Buying directly from our neighbors helps support local business and keep money our our economy as well as cuts back on the cost and environmental impact of shipping goods from out of state and internationally. This more sustainable lifestyle asks that we give up fruits and vegetables that are not in season and buy according to what our local farms can grow. It’s a different way of living that Oregonians have embraced.
While many tourists come to the PSU market, there are plenty of other markets around Portland and throughout the state that draw less of a crowd with all of the same delicious products. Check here for a listing of farmers markets across the state. See you at the market!
