Keeping It Fresh. Keeping It Oregon
By: Doug Zanger, Founder of Xhang Creative
One of the greatest things about Oregon is the food. There is no denying that it is the best on the planet. Now that rhubarb and asparagus are in season, my mouth is watering even more as the other seasons approach. When I first moved here in 1992, I didn’t really have as much appreciation for the bounty of Oregon as I do today. My family and I love going to the Beaverton Farmer’s Market. We live very close to farm stores west of Murray Hill off of Scholls Ferry Road. At each point in the season, we have the opportunity to really feel (and taste) what Oregon has to offer. When the berries come out, we head out to Smith Berry Barn to pick. When the apples are harvested, we go to Oregon Heritage Farms to load up. (We do the same when it’s time to pick our pumpkin for Halloween) When walnuts and hazelnuts call it a season, we visit Loughridge Farms. One of my favorite summer dishes is potato salad using fresh reds from Baggenstos Farm Store. It makes me feel good to know that the potatoes are being grown just around the corner and it’s obvious that the taste is unmatched.
Though these observations are just about produce, every individual that works in agriculture works very hard to ensure that we have the very best. From fishing to ranchers and everywhere in between, I can’t think of a better group of people who are endlessly passionate about the possibilities of what we can raise and grow. Our agricultural industry is vibrant and I’m sure that all of us want to keep it that way. We all can do our part by consistently supporting the industry. And it’s not just about buying Oregon. It’s about sharing stories of why we love everything that is so delicious about the state we all love so much. Now, tell us, what do you do to support local businesses?
May 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Great post Doug. We are lucky to have such great bounty, and smart land use laws that have protected our rich farm lands.
1May 20th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I agree with Lee, Doug (hey Lee!). We started a farmers’ market in the Villebois development in Wilsonville, and the food and produce these farmers have is fantastic. It’s also a great way to educate the community about what kind Oregon-grown produce is out there, and when it’s available: some people expect produce in May, when most farmers don’t have much available until June/July.
The best thing, though, is that you get to know the people who make your food and WHAT you should be looking for. I sat down with the folks from Family Table Farm after the market closed this last Sunday, and they taught me a bit about canning tomatoes and the importance of including the juice in with the meat. It’s not likely a Safeway employee would tell me about this (or even know about it to tell me about it) if I cornered him or her to get help choosing between canned tomato options.
And without farmers’ markets, how would I have known about Full of Life Farm, which kills chickens to order? Talk about fresh poultry! Even Whole Foods can’t touch THAT!
2May 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Good Morning!! What a great venue! Thank you!!We are enjoying vending at the Villebois Farmers’ Market and the Oregon City Farmers’ Market so very much. My husband, Larry, and I have over 100 years of farming experience between the two of us. Mistakes? We’ve made more than our share. We just keep on learning and are committed to sharing what we’ve learned from our mistakes with our customers. It’s not enough to just sell a plant to someone who has never seen a tomato or pepper anywhere but the produce section of the local chain food store. We’re adamant about educating. Knowledge is power. People can have power over the quality of the food they eat.
The current economy may have some folks feeling like everything is out of control. With the Farmers’ Markets, folks can have control over what they eat. They can get to know who is growing the food they eat, the level of commitment the farmer has to quality food at a fair value. Fairly soon our farm will be open to visitors. As Larry says, “folks otta come out and talk to their food, not just see where it’s grown.”
We’re so grateful to the market managers, the VOLUNTEERS, all the folks behind the scenes that make a market so successful. We are sincerely grateful and glad to be a part of helping people learn to help themselves!
Thanks again,
Laura and Larry Huckaba
3Family Table Farm
17299 S North End Road
Oregon City OR 97045
503-631-8866
cell 503-679-1714
June 11th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hear, hear, Huckabas! And great work, Villebois FM! Bounteous blessings, indeed - you’re some of them.
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of visiting farmers’ markets all over the state (on behalf of the Oregon Farmers’ Markets Association)and was blown away by the goodness on every hand, and the great blossoming movement we’re part of. And from that broad perspective, I see these markets feeding so much more than our souls and families…
Our farmers’ markets - tiny rural micro-markets and giant urban markets alike - are responding to an important fact - that we as a people have the ability to influence our well-being, our communities and our future by making choices that EXPAND our choices (for life, not “stuff”).
These “Main Street” marketplaces are subject to the same threats and opportunities that Wall Street markets are - from farm labor laws, the price of petrol and climate change to local taxation, sign regulations and doggie laws. Let us never forget though, that on ‘Main Street, O-R-E’ we have the response-ability to make the linkages between our lives and the global context, finding new opportunities in the threats and weaknesses so visible on high.
Every time we create new options and opportunities that expand involvement and capacity in our communities we strengthen our ability to respond to the future. Each market reflects the flavor, ingenuity and spirit of those who participate in it - like marketplaces since time immemorial.
And as we cultivate our local marketplaces and nurture those who recreate new-old traditions and values and opportunities in our backyards, we renew the new-old awareness for the next generation - that we are the ones who make the traditions of a future worth living, and eating, and joyfully revelling in!
Thank you to everyone who grows for farmers’ markets, shops at farmers’ markets and organizes them - all heroes in this life!
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