PDX Food Press

Portland Farmers Market’s 30th Season Sprouts

Portland Farmers Market Locations Crop Up Around Town

Throughout May and June, neighborhood markets to open, joining year-round PSU location

PORTLAND, Ore. — April 30, 2021 — Backyard gardens are springing to life, blossoms from fruit trees fill the air, and farmers markets are returning in full bloom this spring throughout Portland as neighborhood markets kick off a brand-new season. Four neighborhood markets are preparing to open, joining the organization’s flagship, year-round PSU Portland Farmers Market in the South Park Blocks. This season, Portland Farmers Market welcomes 14 new vendors to the markets to share locally grown and produced foods with Portland locavores.

“We are so excited to welcome shoppers to our neighborhood markets as vendors prepare to set up their stands full of the region’s bounty this spring,” said Katy Kolker, the newly hired executive director of Portland Farmers Market. “There is nothing quite like purchasing fresh food right from the person who grew or made it. It’s an honor to provide vibrant marketplaces where folks can connect with the community, support local food and farm businesses, and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time.”

These markets are entering their second season operating under COVID-19 safety protocols, which have continued to be adapted and improved throughout the PSU market’s fall and winter seasons. Shoppers will find convenient hand-washing stations, six-foot markers for distancing, frequent sanitization of high-touch surfaces, and market staff and vendors utilizing personal protective equipment. As per state mandates, everyone in the market must wear masks and observe six-foot distancing, and shoppers are asked not to eat in the market or linger in the walkways. And market vendors must refrain from offering samples, frequently clean booth surfaces and observe hands-free protocols as much as possible. People should stay home if they have been in contact with someone with COVID symptoms, or if they have any symptoms themselves. Policies are available on the Portland Farmers Market website, and shoppers are encouraged to check for updates before they visit each location.

“We have been so appreciative of our visitors and vendors taking extra measures to keep the entire market community safe,” said Kolker. “Shopping for groceries in the open air of a farmers market is one of the safest ways to access fresh food and support the local economy. We can ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome if we all do our part.”

MARKET OPENING DATES

Although the Saturday PSU Market is open year-round, springtime heralds the opening of Portland Farmers Market’s other four weekly markets.

May marks two market openings:

 

June will welcome shoppers and vendors back to:

 

2021 VENDOR CROP

For 2021, our five markets will welcome a fresh crop of 14 new vendors to their bounty of returning local farmers and food producers:

  • Creole Me Up (Multnomah County, Ore.) Allergen-free Haitian Creole condiments, including spicy marinades and pickles. PSU
  • Double Circle Spirits (The Dalles and Portland, Ore.) Bourbon whiskey, wheat whiskey and vodka made from soft white wheat grown west of the Cascades and distilled in Portland. King, PSU
  • Exilior Coffee (Dundee, Ore.) Intense and rich Kenyan coffee with a commitment to maintaining direct relationships with the regional farmers who grow the beans. PSU
  • Fermenter (Portland, Ore.) A wide and delicious variety of fermented goods, from kimchi and krauts to hazelnut cheese, tempeh, koji, kefir and kombucha. Shemanski
  • Gentle Rain Farm (Clackamas County, Ore.) A certified-organic, woman-run farm nourishing the Portland area with fresh veggies, fermented vegetables, and culinary and medicinal herbs. PSU
  • InClay Co. (La Center, Wash.) Beautiful flowers grown on 40 acres north of Portland on a farm founded in permaculture practices. King
  • PDX Urban Gardens (Portland, Ore.) Herbal teas and lip balms made with locally sourced recipes and packaged in compostable containers. Kenton, King, Lents, Shemanski
  • Peak Light Cider Company (Sauvie Island, Ore.) Genuine farm-to-bottle cider made from apples grown on a biodynamic farm, pressed and fermented on the farm. PSU
  • Portland Wine Company (Portland, Ore.) A family-owned-and-operated urban winery making dry table wines from locally sourced grapes. Lents, Shemanski
  • Quiche Me If You Can! (Portland, Ore.) Handcrafted vegetarian quiches baked fresh at the crack of dawn with farm-fresh eggs, organic heavy cream and fresh local produce. PSU
  • Sidekick Provisions (Portland, Ore.) Plant-based dips with organic almonds and avocado oil as the base, with fresh garlic, herbs, onions and spices. All products are gluten-free, dairy-free and bean-free. Kenton, King, PSU
  • Stillweather Spirits (Portland, Ore.) A three-neighbor collaboration producing craft gins and aquavit that honor the seasons and flavors of the Pacific Northwest. King, PSU, Shemanski
  • Wandering Seeds Bakery (Portland, Ore.) A bakery that utilizes locally and organically grown whole grains, milled fresh and fermented with a sourdough culture, to make bread and pastries with a sense of place. King
  • Yun’s Chaos Kitchen (Portland, Ore.) Assorted seasonings and ready-to-eat foods to add a little fun and chaos to every dish. Kenton

Now in its 30th season, Portland Farmers Market helps sustain the region’s farming and food community. At its five area markets, small food businesses build a following, test recipes and get feedback directly from shoppers. Family farmers count on the consumer-direct sales that Portland’s farmers markets offer, and the market provides a consistent outlet for products that may have been sold to restaurants pre-pandemic.

PFM accepts food assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, Fresh Change and Farmers Direct Nutrition Program vouchers. SNAP shoppers can receive Double Up Food Bucks, up to $10 per day in matching funds to purchase fruits and vegetables. These programs increase access to farm-fresh food for food insecure neighbors throughout the city.

About Portland Farmers Market

Celebrating its 30th season in 2021, Portland Farmers Market operates world-class farmers markets that contribute to the success of local food growers and producers. The independently run nonprofit organization manages five weekly farmers markets in Portland, including the flagship, year-round market on Saturdays at Portland State University. More than 700,000 shoppers purchase farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, baked goods and other specialty foods from more than 190 vendors generating more than $10 million in sales annually. Through operating markets, Portland Farmers Market serves as an incubator for emerging businesses, a leader in the local food movement, a culinary focal point, a cultural destination and a beacon for Portland’s sustainability movement. To learn more about how Portland Farmers Market grows, nourishes and inspires the community, follow them on Instagram, become a Facebook fan, read the official blog and visit portlandfarmersmarket.org.