Portland’s Farmer’s Market was not only a feast for the eyes, it was a feast for the nose. I really wish my photos had smellavision to them. This has to be one of my favourite farmer’s markets in the whole wide world!

The aroma of fresh-picked green tomatoes basking in the sun.
So many different types of tomatoes and all of them little neon signs saying ‘pick me, pick me’.
I was assaulted on all sides from people wandering abounding clutching their little bundles of fresh basil. Between the basil and the tomatoes I was envisioning a tomato basil salad with maybe just salt and pepper and olive oil. When produce is this fresh you don’t need much to make it taste out-of-this-world.
Right next to the tomatoes were the peppers.
I followed my nose and found more peppers roasting in some sort of contraption. I’ve never seen anything like this before and asked if the guy if he had made it himself. He told me that these pepper roasters are really popular down south. These roasted peppers smelled heavenly and I was wondering how I could make up some down-sized version for home use. Al suggested a hamster wheel might work.
I love mushrooms but haven’t really been that experimental. Actually, after checking out the price I can see that trying out new types of mushrooms is either for the wealthy or for the people that go out and forage for them in the forest.
Artichokes, mmm, I have a great hollandaise recipe.
Mexican Food! Too bad we came here right after breakfast. After seeing this astounding market I can say that if you happen to be in Portland on a Saturday, skip breakfast and come straight here. It opens at 8:30.
Mead! We tested the ginger mead – it was scented with ginger and honey...
Speaking of ginger, here is some fresh ginger. I overheard two women discussing it. One had tried it before and she noted that it didn’t really taste any different from older ginger but it was crunchy as opposed to fibrous.
What to have for dessert? For me it was no contest – these apples had been calling out to me from fruit stands on our drive to Portland. I bought the biggest one I could find and munched happily for the rest of my wanderings around the market.
If I hadn’t already eaten I probably would have succumbed to these baked goods.
The fragrance of fresh-cut flowers.
The bouquets come in any combination of colours you can imagine, or you can pick and choose a combination that pleases you and they will put together a custom arrangement on the spot.
Wahhh… I want to live in Portland!

The Nitty-Gritty

The market is only open Saturdays from 8:30 to 2:00. Skip breakfast and come to SW Park Ave & SW Montgomery St in Southwest Portland, Downtown.