The King's Market
All of Portland smiled as the King Portland Farmers Market sprung to life on Sunday, May 1, the first market of the season for this northeast location. What could be better than fresh, local produce bathing in buttery sunshine? The clear skies and warm weather enticed neighborhood residents to stay and enjoy the music, romp around the playground, picnic in the grass, and of course, shop for fresh-from-the-farm food.
This is the first of many magical days at the King Market. Now in its third season, the market will be open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the end of October, near the intersection of NE 7th Avenue and Wygant Street, in the parking lot adjacent to King School Park.
The King Market welcomed new vendors for 2011:
- Eatin’ Alive, a bicycle-powered mobile vending station that believes in harnessing raw energy in both transport and cooking. A Portland-based company, they use all organic, locally grown produce to create seasonal, freshly prepared raw snacks such as: seed and nut pates, wild crafted pesto, garden wraps, a variety of prepared salads, and delicious sweet treats.
- Good Natured Gardens, a small, family run vegetable and herb farm located on Sauvie Island that grows a wide variety of heirloom produce and seedlings using organic methods to ensure the highest quality.
- KCK Farms, a family owned and operated nursery in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley offering fresh cut peonies, bare root, containerized trees and perennials.
- Trailhead Coffee Roasters, the bike-based Portland coffee roaster featuring coffees produced by women farmers and served from Trailhead’s rolling bike cafe
In addition to shopping for farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, seafood and other specialty foods, there will be a lot going on each Sunday! Here’s a taste of what market-goers can find at King Market:
Get Growing: Every Sunday in May. A booth hosted by Multnomah County Master Gardeners will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where shoppers can bring plant starts purchased from market vendors to have them potted into container gardens free of charge, plus get free gardening advice from the Masters! This year will feature a promotional card for plant starts purchased during Get Growing King: buy $15 worth of plant starts from market vendors and enter to win fabulous plant and market prizes. Cards may be picked up at the info booth or from any nursery stock vendors. The drawing will be held at the end of the market on May 29. Winners will be contact by phone or email and need not be present to win.
Bite Size Kids Cook at the Market: the last* Sunday of each month (May 29, June 19*, July 31, August 28, September 25). Kids can cultivate their culinary skills and experience a cornucopia of farm-fresh foods though these free drop-in classes. Each month will center on a featured ingredient: radishes (May); greens (June); berries (July); summer squash (August); and tomatoes (September).
The market welcomes back other farmers, prepared food vendors, and food producers and artisans. Click here to see an interactive map of King Market vendors.
See you next Sunday!
