Our History

 

Check out some of our highlights from the last thirty years!

1992

Craig Mosbaek, Dr. Richard Hagan and Ted Snider establish Portland Farmers Market and hold the first market on Saturday, June 13, 1992 in the Albers Mill parking lot on NW Naito Parkway along the Willamette River with 13 vendors.  By the end of the inaugural season, the vendor pool had grown to 22.

1996

The farmers market continues to grows and relocates to the PSU campus.

1998

A second farmers market is added mid-day on Wednesdays at Shemanski Park, downtown in Portland’s Cultural District.

2003

As the vendor pool swells, another farmers market opens on Thursday afternoons at the Ecotrust building in the NW Portland’s Pearl District.

2006

Portland Farmers Market accepts the offer to take over the Buckman Farmers Market on Thursdays in that SE Portland neighborhood.

2009

The King Farmers Market opens on Sundays in the NE Portland neighborhood. 

SNAP matching begins at King Farmers Market and later expands to all neighborhood farmers markets.

2010

Another downtown farmers market opens mid-day on Mondays at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

2012

Shemanski Park Farmers Market extends through the winter as Portland Farmers Market’s first step toward a year-round farmers market.

North Portland welcomes the Kenton Farmers Market on Friday evenings which later moves to Wednesdays.

 Farmers Market Fund becomes an official charitable companion to Portland Farmer Market.

2015

The PSU Farmers Market goes year-round and shopper counts continue to increase with each winter.

 

The Durable Dining program begins at PSU Farmers Market in an effort to reduce food service waste.

The last year for the Buckman Farmers Market; closed due to competition from numerous nearby grocers.

2016

Portland Farmers Market accepts management of the Lents International Farmers Market in SE Portland and gets a federal grant to secure its success.

In honor of Portland Farmers Market’s 25th Anniversary, the Portland Farmers Market Cookbook is created and published.

After moves to three different NW Portland locations, the Northwest Farmers Market closes.

2018

The Pioneer Courthouse Square Market closes due to lack of farm vendors and competition from neighboring food carts.

Lents International Farmers Market extends its season through November.

2019

Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP matching) expands to Shemanski Park Market and winter months at PSU Farmers Market.

2020

Portland Farmers Market never closed any of its’ five markets due to the pandemic due to its classification as an “essential business”. Staff, board, and volunteers worked together to defend our mission, support our vendors and deliver a safe shopping environment for everyone!

Three days of farmers markets in September were closed due to hazardous air quality due to nearby wildfires.

2021

Portland Farmers Market continued to flourish through the second year of the pandemic. Staff, volunteers, and board members worked tirelessly to ensure the farmers markets were welcoming and safe places for vendors and shoppers alike.

2022

Portland Farmers Market commemorated its 30th Anniversary with a special video series celebrating the community and at-market celebration.

With almost 200 vendors at our five farmers markets, Portland Farmers Market continues to be an incubator for farmers and small food businesses that serve a loyal shopper base at each location.