Best Practices for Oregon Farmers Markets

Doesn’t it seem strange that a basic concept like farmers selling their vegetables in an open-air market seems so special in today’s society? That is, after fifty years of consuming prepackaged, dyed orange food, literally created for men floating in space. O brave new world.

Lucky for us, Oregon is a state that has always lived close to its food, its farmers and orchards, so the farmers market is now common not just in green-savvy Portland, but all over the state. Last week, Moira shared a lovely post about her experience at the Portland Farmers Market at PSU. Every town seems to arrange their farmers market a bit differently, and there are plenty of good ideas to go around.

Fresh food is not just for the rich. That’s why many farmers markets accepts EBT cards (aka food stamps). Shoppers can turn their benefits into wooden chips to use in the market. Oregon's obesity rate among children may have declined, but kids from low-income families are still more than twice as likely to be overweight as those from wealthy families, so providing access to fresh fruit and veg regardless of your income bracket is crucial.

Gourmet vs. Bargain Counter? Speaking of prices, these can vary greatly between the markets. On one hand, it’s fun to sample gourmet chocolate cookies or buy ameraucanas eggs at PSU's Farmers Market. But on the other hand, how can you beat a large bag of red lettuce for $1 or a loaf of homemade English muffin bread for two bucks? These are the prices I saw recently at the farmers market in Pendleton, which prompted me to fill my bag with more veggies and baked goods than I planned on buying. Gourmet can be fun, but I’d rather find reasonable prices any day.

Another mug of mulled wine, please! This might make me sound like a snob, but there’s one memorable item European markets have that U.S. markets don’t: hot mulled wine. Oregon might be known as beervana, but I’d rather have a mug of hot mulled wine on a crisp fall. I’ve never found mulled wine in a U.S. market and I think we should bring this European tradition stateside. Who’s with me?

Market as festival. I love the festive atmosphere found at some farmers markets. Whether its live musical entertainment or pumpkin carving for the kiddies (and me), farmers markets can become lively community spaces that remind us why we love living in Oregon.

Free Recipes. The PSU Farmers Market provides free recipes geared towards the produce sold at the market. It's a great way to experiment in your kitchen. And the woman who runs the stand is happy to chat about the best way to make a mirepoix.

Market as small business opportunity. Though farmers markets obviously benefit local farmers, ranchers and fisherman, the can also provide opportunities for small businesses entrepreneurs. Booths at the Astoria Sunday Market not only sells veg and fruit, but also art, jewelry, trinkets and hats, giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell their ware. One Portland restaurant, Pine State Biscuit, actually got their start as a food booth at a farmer’s market.

Morning vs Evening. Some farmers markets open in the morning and close by 2 p.m. Others open late in the afternoon and run through the evening. So, what's the best time for your community’s farmer market? I personally like the evening model best, simply because, try as I might, it’s hard to get up early on a Sunday morning. Then again, the farmer is known as an early riser.

It's December - where's my farmers market? And finally, why do the markets have to close in October? Yes, I'm aware it rains in Oregon. Let's continue to encourage cooking seasonally by keeping our farmers markets open all year long. After all, that's one more reason to start selling hot mulled wine.

@jennyfurniss