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!

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
Family Table Farm
17299 S North End Road
Oregon City OR 97045
503-631-8866
cell 503-679-1714

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!