Most of our local farmers' markets open in May, but the market at Portland State University opens early and gives those of us vendors who participate in later opening markets the opportunity to leisurely stroll a market as a shopper. The day was clear and beautiful and I was so hungry for fresh organic produce that I made a trip into Portland to shop and meet friends. I thought that you might like to walk through the market with me. Portland State University is the state's largest university and is situated right in the middle of downtown Portland. I received my degree there and love to visit the campus whenever I have the opportunity.
We've had a mild winter and early spring so flowers are at their peak in time for Easter.
One of the first signs of spring
French breakfast radishes ~ mild, crisp, peppery
Stacks of fresh spring greens were everywhere
Should I eat something that I can't touch with my bare hands?
I want to buy it all.
We have wonderful bakeries here. Baguettes from The Pearl Bakery remind me of the heavenly breads in France...sigh
Homemade pickled asparagus, garlic, beets and carrots. Pepper jellies too.
Award winning artisanal cheeses from Willamette Valley Cheese Co. Their havarti is my favorite.
Let's hear it for happy chickens?
Fresh rhubarb is always one of the first signs of spring. I can almost taste the first pie of the season.
The historic Simon Benson House, a first rate example of early Portland architecture.
I can't resist all the wonderful pastries and breads from local bakers.
The market's purpose is to provide a community with the best fresh organic products possible. If you are fortunate to have a market close to where you live I hope you will shop there and support the local farmers and producers who put so much effort into making our lives better.
MARKET ETIQUETTE...just a reminder
Leave your animals at home. A crowded market isn't the place for pets
Please...no smoking
Bring shopping bags from home
Vendors love it when you pay with small bills
I would love to read about the farmers' markets in your community. Each one has a character all its own. I've posted a market locator on my sidebar that will help you find the markets in your area.
Happy Shopping.
You are at least 2 months ahead of me for my local oneMay 24th weekend ours usually opens..In town ..about 1/2 away.. end of April ..it usually comes alive..
ReplyDeleteYour market is colorful and I would have been tempted to try it all too..Did you come home laden w/ produce?
Personally I find Swiss Chard gorgeous w/ it's big ruffly leaves..and how good do those radishes look? A baguette ..some famous cheese and a bunch of tulips..
A perfect day.
Hi Monique - I did have a wonderful day and came home with a baguette, chicken liver mousse pate, havarti cheese, radishes and butter. And that was my dinner. It couldn't have been better.
ReplyDeleteOh, you lucky lady! The closest and best Farmers' Market here opens the first Saturday in May, a full month away and I'm sure there won't be the splendid offerings as you found there. How beautiful everything looks!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fine looking market. We have a local one that I participate in when I grow a big crop and I like it because the seller must be the grower - no going 4 counties away, buying stuff and bringing it back to sell.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, Cathy! Thanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteThose tulips are gorgeous!
And the radishes.
And the rhubarb! My favorite. I am going to post 3 more rhubarb recipes in the next month or so. I love it.
Some of our local markets have opened, but most are a few weeks away. Yours looks absolutely wonderful-worth a trip for sure!! I'll (hopefully) be blogging about ours in a couple of weeks
ReplyDeletexoxo Pattie
Oh, I'd love to go to this market! Up here in the frozen North, our Farmers Market doesn't begin until the middle of July!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the market report. I love the colors. Isn't the rhubarb gorgeous! The Vancouver market opened last week and I have driven by twice but without time to stop. I'd love to be there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful market!! I want it all!
ReplyDeleteI just moved here to Oregon. And I cant wait for the farmers markets to start around me! In the meantime Im getting familiar with the area and seeking out local farmers and such. A neighbor has turned me onto the local egg lady and I must say these are the best eggs Ive ever eaten. Even did a blog about them lol. Now I had fresh eggs long ago when I lived in NJ. but I dont remember them ever being as good as these. Im looking at your pictures here tho and just drooling........cant wait for the fresh stuff to begin!
ReplyDeleteFarmer's Markets are a haven for photographers, aren't they? So much color and variety. These are gorgeous shots. Our local farmer's market opened up last week and I'm so excited. I have major Spring Fever...off to plant tomatoes today!
ReplyDeleteCathy, what a beautiful post! And I love your header. Aren't fruits and veggies the most fun thing to photograph? Love how artistic that looks.
ReplyDeleteI've been MIA for a bit and will be for a while longer. Just stopped by to wish you well. Lots of craziness in my life right now. Sigh. But this, too, shall pass...
XO,
Sheila :-)
Beautiful colorful flowers and vegetables! I so enjoyed the farmer's market when I was in Seattle last spring. So much fun and such a variety of foods....can't say that I would attempt nettles! What does one do with those?
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs!
What a beautiful market. I live in San Diego and lucky for us our local farmers market is open year round. I can't resist the fresh bread and cheese.
ReplyDeleteMimi
I love your market posts! We have nothing like that! I would be in Heaven there..look at those breads! Thanks for the trip!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, Could see why you enjoyed your trip to the market, it's so beautiful and so much to see. Everything is so colourful and neatly arranged.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I love Farmer's Markets. But we don't have one until much, much later...and it's much,much smaller. I love all your pictures.
ReplyDeleteNow you have me dreaming of the farmers market. I will open Easter weekend but I don't imagine there will be much produce yet.I will enjoy it!!!!
ReplyDeleteCathy I love your new blog header... Seems very YOU!! and my favorite pic is that huge bunch of breakfast radishes!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking me on a little trip through your market!!
This looks so wonderful...ours does not open until June....
ReplyDeleteSoon...soon...soon...
L~xo
Oh, I WANNA GO!! Our recent one, held in the Metro Parks, was a parking disaster as they had not plowed out much of the spaces. Grrrrr! I doubt I'll go back to that one but we'll soon have have others. Thanks for making me think to bring my camera when I go. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
Do you sell your roasted, glazed nuts at this one?
Re: pet animals...I wish people would ALWAYS leave them at home! I hate it when they have drag them to watch parades (like the animal cares??) & festivals & such. They shouldn't be anywhere near food & crowds. Its the nurse in me that sees potential harm all the time. :/
What a gorgeous market! In eastern WA, ours don't open until May 1 and even then the pickings are slim until about June 1. I'm sooo looking forward to it. Randomly met a local egg farmer in Walmart last week and ordered some eggs from her. I'm looking forward to picking them up today. Finding an egg farmer will get me through until May 1!
ReplyDeleteIt was a picture perfect day, Cathy. The breads made me hungry. The first of our local markets will open this coming weekend but they will look very bare for many weeks to come.
ReplyDeleteOh Cathy, I wish I would have gone this weekend - the Portland market is so great.
ReplyDeleteCathy, what a beautiful market! $3.95/lb for rhubarb? hmm, wonder if someone will buy mine. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh I must go soon to the market. I love the Portland State Farmer's Market. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteSpring has sprung in the Northwest! There was rhubarb at my local market (in Seattle) as well. Yay1
ReplyDeleteThese are my favorite places to shop!
ReplyDeleteI really want to move into that Benson House. SO many great photos. You really gave me a feel of the place!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic market..you are one lucky gal to have one like that so close by. I think the car would be full after strolling through all of that produce..can't believe you are so far ahead of us, I was drooling ove the rhubarb!!
ReplyDeleteLove your new header - now that's a bunch of radishes!
That looks so nice. I love your pictures. So nice to see flowers. The first sign of spring around here will be the forsythia. It is still too early, but I can't wait to see the beautiful colors popping up everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWe used to live in Corbett when I was a kid and we would get stung by those nasty nettles all the time! They are very good for you though. :) The flowers and radishes are lovely!
ReplyDeleteThis market looks FABULOUS!!! We have several around... I NEED to get out to more of them!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous market. It reminds me of France.
ReplyDeleteSam
So glad to hear that your farmer's market had reopened. Everything looks SO GOOD, I want to buy it all too! I love farmer's markets!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved that sign of miles to market from Dee Creek Farms as well and also took a photo of it. Great photos, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I am planning to take the kids to the Historical Society for a field trip; I should plan that trip to coincide with the Portland Market as it is literally right across the street! Those flowers are terrific, and I'm all for happy chickens! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe live within reasonable walking distance from the Beaverton farmers market... sadly, it doesn't open until May. :-( I don't do much produce shopping there, because we get a CSA share and I grow a lot of my own, but we love to go there and LOOK. And eat junk food. :-)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the farmer's markets in Las Vegas leave much to be desired--such as farmers, and produce! There is one with produce, but it's brought from California.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I grow a lot of food at home. Swiss chard and asparagus are ripe now, and the sugar snap peas should be ready in a week.
I'm just now seeing this post. Katherine told me to come and read yours after I posted one with pictures of 5 different farmers markets from across the country. (I was born in Portland, so it is nice to see this one.)
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