Portland Farmers Market at the Square Opens Monday, June 18

- Lunchtime market and A Taste of Portland Farmers Market return to Portland’s living room -

 

Portland, Ore., June 14, 2012 – Monday, June 18 marks the return of KINK.fm presents Portland Farmers Market at the Square. In its third year, the downtown market features 35 vendors selling local farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods and other specialty foods, as well as four prepared food vendors for those looking to grab lunch. Opening day will feature musical entertainment by James Clem.

Pioneer Courthouse Square Market will be held every Monday from June 18 to September 24 (excluding Labor Day, September 3), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Square is the city’s beloved outdoor “living room,” located between SW Broadway and SW Sixth, and SW Morrison and SW Yamhill.

Portland Farmers Market and Pioneer Courthouse Square are also partnering for the second year to bring A Taste of Portland Farmers Market at the Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during the Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series which is free to the public. Running Tuesday, July 10 to August 16, the ever-popular Noon Tunes will showcase some of the best in regional and local musical talent. Concert-goers can enjoy dishes made primarily with ingredients sourced through farmers market vendors.

“Summer is truly here with the opening of these vibrant farmers markets on the Square,” said Trudy Toliver executive director of Portland Farmers Market. “We love partnering with KINK and Pioneer Courthouse Square to bring local farmers into the heart of the city to sell our region’s bounty to downtown shoppers, tourists, residents and workers.”

Additionally, the Square will serve as the backdrop of the Portland Farmers Market’s second annual COUNTRY Chef Challenge on Monday, July 16, 2012. The Challenge hosted by KGW-TV’s Drew Carney will pit three local chefs against each other in a live cooking competition at the Square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square Market Vendors

About 35 vendor stalls will crop up on the famous red bricks every Monday. Three vendors new to the Portland Farmers Market family – Fungi Farm Shiitake, Marshall’s Haute Sauce and Split River Growers – will join the market lineup.

Overview of New Vendors

  • Split River Growers – Nestled on the southern tip of Sauvie Island where the Willamette River splits into the Columbia, Split River Growers sustainably plants, fertilizes and harvests by hand greens, table vegetables, herbs and flowers, using no chemicals or pesticides. Their produce never travels further than 20 miles, often much less. Their goal is to use as few resources as possible to offer the freshest of what the earth has to offer.
  • Fungi Farm Shiitake – Started in 2005 by Tony Synarski and Bobbie Mohler, Fungi Farm allows people to grow their own shiitake mushrooms on logs. Their shiitake mushroom logs are produced from hand selected oak and alder trees and are cut, cleaned and inoculated at the perfect time of year to promote high nutrient levels in the wood, ensuring a long life and prolific mushroom production for years to come.
  • Marshall’s Haute Sauce – Marshall’s Haute Sauce creates delicious fresh and local small-batch hot sauce to those craving heat and spice. Their sauces have unique spice blends and flavor combinations. All sauces are gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. They believe in small business owners, farmers and producers, and work with as many as possible.

Farmers and Ranchers

Bakeries and Food Artisans

Prepared Food Vendors

* New vendor for the 2012 season

For up-to-date information on vendor maps and other events at the market, shoppers can visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square Market page.

In addition to the Portland Farmers Market at the Square, Portland Farmers Market operates seven other weekly markets – four neighborhood markets: Kenton in North Portland, Buckman in Southeast Portland, Northwest in Northwest Portland, and King in Northeast Portland; and three other downtown markets: PSU, Shemanski Park, and the Winter Market.

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About Portland Farmers Market

Founded in 1992, Portland Farmers Market operates world-class farmers markets that contribute to the success of local food growers and producers, and create vibrant community gatherings. The independently run local 501(c)6 nonprofit which receives no ongoing support from government agencies employs five full-time and four part-time employees who manage eight weekly farmers markets in the Portland area year round. More than 650,000 shoppers purchased farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, baked goods and other specialty foods from more than 190 vendors generating over $8 million in sales in 2011. In addition to operating markets, Portland Farmers Market also serves as an incubator for emerging businesses, a leader of the local food movement, a source of education, a culinary focal point in the community, a cultural destination complete with musical entertainment, and a billboard for Portland’s sustainability movement. To learn more about how Portland Farmers Market aims to grow, nourish and inspire the community, become a Twitter follower, Facebook fan, blog reader and visit www.portlandfarmersmarket.org.