Eastern Oregon Farmers markets (Portland, Eugene: fit in, how much, buy)

[susan423]

Anyone have any suggestions for one that is nice sized and have a varity of products. I just came back from Baker and it was so tiny and hardly any food items. I'm looking for a place that has fresh cheeses and bacon. Things like that.

[bman15470]

Sorry dude, its called Safeway. West side of state is Port-Eugene for overpriced inferior quality organic no hormone free range no conflict onions and potatoes.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by bman15470

Sorry dude, its called Safeway. West side of state is Port-Eugene for overpriced inferior quality organic no hormone free range no conflict onions and potatoes.

That's flat-out wrong. Even in Klamath Falls we have organic produce and free-range meat. Nothing as nice as the Portland Farmer's Market at PSU, but a heck of a lot better than Safeway/Fred Meyer/Kroger etc.

In Eastern and Central Oregon we have a shorter growing season, and the markets open later in the year and it takes a bit to get a good selection.

ETA: link http://www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/

[bman15470]

Libs make it so easy. I'm poking fun at the whole "whole foods" thing, You know at the turn of the 20th century the leading cause of death was water bourne illness. Today we live longer healthier lives and people are scared to death of eating store bought chicken eggs (got a wacko sister living in Portland that has chickens in her back yard, shes always trying to give away her "organic chicken eggs) Look people your gonna die around 82 years of age and that free range chicken egg all stained with crap ain't gonna change that fact, so go and enjoy a loaded double cheese burger once in awhile cause life is short. Wink, bman

[PNW-type-gal]

And that entirely misses the point of eating fresh and local as well - it's not about how long you live, it's about how well you live and how food tastes. Buy your produce, meats and eggs at the farmer's market for a week and you'll see how much better things taste. Buy things which weren't grown for longest shelf life and you'll notice the difference.

[bman15470]

Sorry PNW, but I like my potato's big as a Subaru and freakishly void of scab and blemish. I like celery that is so cheap I don't even bother looking at the price. I like my beef from a feed lot, full of rich fat marbling and tender from lack of exercise (stand still Betsy or your gonna get tougher) hormone chicken breasts so large and firm they are the envy of Hollywood. Yes I will still can my own jam, and grow tomatoes in the garden but modern agriculture has done more to advance the human cause (except medicine) than almost any thing else. Well we gotta have those damned dams to irrigate all those fields so maybe their close second (second to Ag of course which is second to medicine) Wait I forgot about nasty chemicals, they fit in there somewhere but I suppose thats part of the organic vs propagated, hybridized, genetically improved arguments) Gotta go before someone eats the last donut. bman

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by susan423

Anyone have any suggestions for one that is nice sized and have a varity of products. I just came back from Baker and it was so tiny and hardly any food items. I'm looking for a place that has fresh cheeses and bacon. Things like that.

You won’t find large farmers’ markets in Eastern Oregon.

The population is too small. It is also rural and the farmers’ market phenomenon is largely (but not exclusively) an urban thing where it is also an important social get together for certain people:
#5 Farmers Markets « Stuff White People Like

Very little produce, which is one of the staples of farmers’ markets, is grown or even can be grown in commercial quantities in Eastern Oregon – it is ranching country. However, some really good beef comes from Eastern Oregon; sometimes it is available at the Baker City farmers’ market and always at Bella’s on Main St. You can also get your cheese and bacon at Bella’s:
BELLA - Where to find gift baskets, Oregon wine, Baker City products, chocolates and fun gifts.

This is really good, juicy beef. The cattle are fattened with corn and other grains:
Dry Aged Beef - Dry Aged Natural Beef

If you insist on grass finished beef, this is actually very good, but not as juicy as grain finished:
Sexton Ranches Natural Lamb and Beef