Saturday Markets in Portland (Gresham, Beaverton: trip , lease, work)

[deegers]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

There are a bajillion (okay, I exaggerate) farmers markets in the Portland area. The one in the Park Blocks on the weekend being the "big one."

You'll find a list of the many others here. There's pretty much one somewhere any day of the week from spring to fall.

A bajillion? I think I'm going to use that word today. Is that an enricoV-ism? LOL. I thought was pretty funny when I read that. Wow, there's even a website huh. That's gotta tell ya something.

[tiffela74]

Farmers markets are pretty big here in Oregon in general....ours out here in Coos Bay, its held in the mall on weekends. Or at least one of them is, they block out parts of downtown for one on Wed. (I think its Wed. at least), plus the farmer stands scattered about.
Its a good thing.
There was an awesome farmers stand up off Barber in Portland by my moms....
now something else you oughta check out, is the festivals in the more rural areas...like the Blueberry Festival, the Blackberry Festival, the Strawberry Festival...oh yummmyy!!! These usually run for a long weekend, and have all sorts of yummies featuring that paticular fruit (or veggie, we have those too!!) Everything from soaps and candles, to fudge and tarts. Oh man, Oregon is a great place to be! lol
Have you any interest in the YouPicks out at the farms? It can be a fun way to spend an afternoon...picking your own flats of berries or whatnot. My kids always have a ball, you can eat your fill as you pick, and it always smells so delicious!!
Tiffany

[deegers]

Festivals??? Blackberries?? Oh my!!! I love blackberries! I did not know about all the FEstivals! THat is so great. YouPIcks??? Wow, I have a ton of interest in that. I wonder what it cost to do that.

What other FEstivals do you guys have that I'm not aware of?

[tiffela74]

lol, youre in for a real treat if youre here this summer!
The festivals vary from town to town. For instance, my mom is at the Astoria Seafood and Wine tasting festival this weekend....
the last Blueberry festival i attended was in Cornelious,
the Blackberry festival is here in Coos Bay and stretches on for a couple blocks, (that one is my fav. I stock up on locally made Blackberry scented lotion/soap, all made w/Oregon rain, makes for great gifts too!! and you have not lived til youve tried Blackberry fudge! ooohhhh goodbye diet!! lol)
I went to a Strawberry festival in Hillsboro, (I got the BEST strawberry body scrub there that again, a local lady, had made. )
Theres just so darn many of them, again, they vary from town to town. And many times, you'll have a couple of different ones in the same town, just usually held at different times.
The U-Picks, theres signs for them, my fav. place was just outside of Forest Grove. Mostly we did strawberries and rasberries. I know ive seen signs for them outside Hillsboro too....The cost will vary from place to place and depending on what you pick. But its almost always cheaper then picking up a flat from a stand/market. And like i said, you get to munch while you pick. Oh bliss....

[deegers]

stop it Tiff, you are killing me here! I want to go right now!!!

Where's Forest Grove in reference to downtown Portland?

[KarlaT2]

Oh, man. I remember as a kid around Molalla/Canby area we all went to pick peaches one weekend. All us kids rode home in the back of the truck filled with fresh warm ripe peaches. We had juice running down our faces, and they were so sweet.
Last summer I visited my parents and they have fruit stands all over in Canby area. Strawberries, blackberries, marionberries, raspberies - oh they were SO good. You can't buy anything that tastes as good as a fresh Oregon berry in the summer. Oh yeah, and the cherries, and blueberries. YUMM.............................................. .........................

[deegers]

Welcome karla! Wow, peaches??? I haven't had a good peach since I moved out of chicago! That is a great memory. I never knew such a place existed...

[John Shaft]

Forest Grove is about an hour west of downtown Portland.

There are lots of farmers' markets. To reiterate, don't get those confused with Saturday Market. Many people love Saturday Market, but just to give another opinion, I was really disappointed in it. Think a bunch of people selling tie-dyed T-shirts with "George Bush Sucks" or marijuana leaves on them. You should probably go to form your own opinion, but I can't think of anything in Portland that's more overrated.

[hymalaia]

an hour? By car? Granted I've never driven to Forest Grove but it's what? 25 miles? Sure there's traffic and it's not all highway but an hour seems like an extreme, worst case rush hour scenario. Google maps say 43 min, and even that seems high. But maybe I'm wrong.

I'm also a bit underwhelmed by the Saturday Market. The "vibe" is kind of trashy and it's way too crowded. There doesn't seem to be anything original or interesting for sale either but maybe I just haven't looked hard enough. Oh well, I can see where some people would like it.

[tiffela74]

so it sounds like Saturday market has gone downhill... that really really bites! Last time I was there, it took all day to go thru, and had so many wonderful things, i didnt have nearly enough $$ to buy 1/2 of what i wanted! I got my mom these incredible glass knobs for her kitchen cabinets that i watched the lady make. They were so pretty! and then she handpainted them too, they got many compliments over the years....and Ive still got a beautiful wool sweater that another lady made, its held up wonderfully over the years....so many treasures, its sad to hear its gone downhill....

but the fruits/veggies, I know at least they are still in glorious galore!! There used to be a stand near where I lived, every day, the farmer would fill this huge wooden box w/fresh picked ears of corn from his fields, there was a little wooden $$ box and a sign saying the corn was 15cents an ear. Noone there watching, it was an honor system pay. We ate so much fresh corn while living by there, and yes, always paid. never saw it vandalized or stolen, hopefully its still there now...
I love the cherry tomatos and pear tomatos! Oh, and the pear cucumbers!! We get em all by the flat and eat through them like mad! Then, have to try and choke down the ones from the supermarket when ours arent in season...ugh. Its one of the only drawbacks...you get used to all these incredible, fresh, delicious fruits/veggies all season, then when fall hits, all the supermarket stuff is so nasty/bland. sigh.
but hey, its April....stands should be coming up vveerrrryyy soon!!! We've got all summer to look forward to!
You gonna be here Deegers???
Tiffany