A Bustle of Spring Market Activity
By Kelly Merrick
Is it just me, or is everyone’s schedule packed full of activity? These days I feel like I am constantly moving from one thing to another, with hardly a moment to breathe in between.
But if the market activities planned for the next month are any indication of how busy market staff have been, then no, I am definitely not the only one, because wow, is there some market news to be shared!
First, let’s cover what’s happening this weekend:
- COUNTRY Financial is sponsoring the fourth annual reusable bag design contest this year and the winning design will be revealed this Saturday, May 31, at the PSU
Market, 10:30am at the Music Stage. Watch this video about the three finalists and stop by to cheer them on as the winning design is unveiled. You can also pick up your free 2014 Portland Farmers Market reusable bag to take with you as you shop for your weekly veggies.
- Julie Merry of The Merry Kitchen will host the Market Play Zone at the King Market this Sunday, June 1. Bring your little ones by to make and sample strawberry swirl dip!
- In other news, three of our very own market vendors have been nominated for Local Hero Awards, hosted by Edible Portland. The awards honor businesses who are transforming how they engage with the community, source ingredients and care for their employees, animals, land. This year, 24 local businesses were nominated, including Starvation Alley in the beverage artisan category; Sun Gold Farm in the farm category; and Tails and Trotters in the retailer category.
If you’re a fan of these three vendors (and you should be!) you can visit www.ecotrust.org/project/local-hero-awards/ to cast your vote. But hurry, because voting ends May 31.
Several vendors will also be making their first appearance of the year at this week’s Portland State University Market:
Unger Farms (berries!)- Baird Family Orchards (cherries!)
- FoodWaves
- Eva’s Herbucha
While a few others will be making their monthly appearance:
- Cascade Naturals
- Jacobsen’s Salt
Second, let’s cover what’s happening at the market in June:
- Three markets opening: Northwest on Thursday, June 5, Kenton on Friday, June 6 and Pioneer Courthouse Square on Monday, June 16.
- Kids Cook at the Market also begins in June and runs through the end of August. The cost per child is $5, and market staff asks that you sign up prior to visiting the market, as class sizes are limited.
- Chef in the Market will also make its debut June 7, kicked off with Chef Todd Koebke of Sabin Schellenberg Center. Chef demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. on the center stage at the PSU Saturday Market, each Saturday from June through September, and are a great opportunity to get to know local chefs and try freshly-prepared market ingredients.
And third, let’s cover just a few of the delicious and seasonal goodies you can get at the market this week:
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries!- Sugar snap peas
- Asparagus
- Fava beans
- Tomato starts
- Herb starts
Happy shopping!
