08 July 2010

Weekly Market Report – Quotable Edition

Building Burgers

Last Thursday’s high was 65°, today it will be pushing the triple digits. Average them together and we have had 2 really enjoyable 82° days – Since it doesn’t work that way, Thursday’s 2 Markets offer a chance if not to stay out of the heat than, at least out of the heat of the kitchen. On the Eastside, the Buckman Market, features Star Anise’s Asian inspired cuisine ready for the eating if you don’t want to cook at all. Reister Farms is there if you think the grill is your best option for today and if you want to keep it light – Bread and Cheese abounds with Fressen and Rogue to name just 2. Berries will rule, Tamiyasu will be kicking off their market season – good people; killer cherries. And at 5 pm there is a chance to get out of the sun with a gardening workshop. Westside’s 23rd Ave. Market has The New Leaf, Hacienda, Barefoot Chicken serving meals if you want to avoid generating indoor heat by cooking. And if you feel a tall, cool salad is the answer to today’s heat – Draper Girls and the Spring Hill Gang will be dispensing farm fresh produce.

For Saturday the heat abates and we are promised clear skies and what is supposed to actually be that enjoyable 82° day. PSU offers 1,000s of ideas for your lunch and dinner: Gazpacho being the most obvious as tomatoes start to arrive and the ever so cool cucumbers are hitting all our Markets this week – Cukes are also good with feta in salad, curry and yogurt, spicy peanut sauce and for the Anglophiles and adults, muddled into a gin and tonic.

On Sunday, King Market will be back to normal after last week’s sellout, Build-a-Burger extravaganza. PFM Board President Rosemarie Cordello on Sunday’s event “Build-A-Burger succeeded well beyond our expectations – in educating our shoppers, raising funds, promoting the vendors and bringing the market community together.” A big thank you to everyone who supported the Market and Foodshare Fund NE – If you missed your burger Pine Mountain and Deck Family will have some beef for you to grill your own.

At Monday’s Market, Country Financial, one of the Portland Farmers Market’s great sponsors, will be at the Pioneer Courthouse Square Market, representing and handing out veggie pens. Stop by to learn what services they offer. This week the PCS Market is 4 weeks old and it is off to a great start. Word on the street is that the urban feel of PCS reminds Senior Market Manager, Jaret Foster of his days at New York City’s GreenMarket. Portland Farmers Market Executive Director Ann Forsthoefel has been overwhelmed by the response to our newest Market saying, “Bringing farmers and shoppers together is the heart of our mission. It is great to have another venue for local food lovers to purchase food and meet the people who grow and prepare it.”  Pioneer Square Market operates every Monday 10-2.