In Local We Love!!

While farmers markets are a primary source of sales for many local farmers , believe it or not (what??!) only a SMALL part of the population buys vegetables, fruit, nuts and herbs at markets.

Thanks to a grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, generous support from Portland Farmers Market and  area farmers markets (including us here at the Oregon City Farmers Market) and sponsors, a collaboration has been formed in the region on an advertising campaign to increase consumer awareness and patronage of farmers markets in the Willamette Valley.

Radio, billboard and online ads feature actual farmers who grow and sell food crops at Oregon farmers markets. The ads encourage new and loyal shoppers to visit their local farmers markets, promote the health, environmental and economic benefits of consuming locally grown farm-fresh food, and help shoppers to find the farmers market nearest them at the campaign website, InLocalWeLove.com.  Well YOU all know where YOUR local Farmers Market is…but did you know we bring you 56  Markets  (year-round) in Oregon City to source local foods from?!!   Help us spread the good news, tell your friends and neighbors what fun it is to shop at the Market…and how seeing all the seasonal produce, meats and fish inspires healthy meals. We have OC Market’s 2013/14 schedule bookmarks available at the Info. Booth. They have dates, times and maps (of the two locations we use) of all the OC Markets, clip one to your fridge and don’t miss out on all the glorious local foods this area has to offer year-round.

And right now is an exciting time for the main summer produce….RJ Farms has heirloom tomatoes coming in with terrific names…like pink and red Brandywine, Box Car Willy, Prudence Purple, Caspian Pink…even a Rainbow Cherry! And Leone’s Farm has everyone’s favorite…Sungolds! This week’s picks of the crop will include: many kinds of cukes, zukes, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, fennel, onions, chard, herbs (Basil for pesto!), carrots, beets, potatoes, WA corn, okra, peppers, (including Padrons!), broccoli, beans, yellow squash…plus ALL the berries, currants, gooseberries, cherries, rhubarb, peaches, nectarines…ask for a taste…graze the Market:) Pick up free packets of Ball Pectin at the Info. Booth…start preserving all this bounty.

Fresh Sardines…and Tuna this Sat!

The list of Fresh Fish this week from Wild Oregon is exciting! The super-healthy/tasty fresh Sardines are landing in the nets now. (Maybe along with some mackerel) The first of the year Albacore Tuna will make an appearance, as well as Halibut, Chinook, Petrale Sole, Ling and possibly Black Cod. For shellfish robin will have: Netarts Bay Oysters (they taste like the ocean!), and Oregon pink shrimp.

Visit Green Card Salsa, taste Trenton’s latest creations!

Summertime means lovely fresh salsas ..and if this doesn’t get you excited!…Green Card Salsa will have 2 new varieties this week, Fuzz Buster: a mild concoction of Peaches and Mint….and  Cucumbustion: a hot and yet surprisingly refreshing explosion of cucumber, jalapeno and agave flavor in your mouth! Esotico Pasta is back this Saturday with (new) Spinach and Garlic pasta as well as others including Lemon Pepper and Tomato Basil…customers who have tried their products are reporting “it’s the best you’ve ever had!”…so pick up a packet this week and serve with grilled veggies, fish and/or crumbly cheese for a quick, healthy meal.  Find meats, fresh fish, pickles, preserves, hummus, wines, baked goods, kombucha, fermented foods, local golden honey (Parson Farms), fresh flowers, plants..and good things for your garden…beautiful Adirondack chairs and tables, worm products, hazelnut shells and don’t forget tool and knife-sharpening too! Out this week is Portland Creamery, Sweet Home Farms and Boondockers Farm…all back next week.

The Master Gardener Workshop this week is on SEED SAVING! Learn how to save your own seed from your plants at 10am. The strongest plants often grow from seed you have saved from plants that thrive in your own garden, save money and grow your own! Listen to the 30 min. talk and get a handout , be ready once fall comes to store seeds for next year.

Meet the super-cute Champagne this Saturday Kids!

The POP Club kids will have fun this Saturday with Champagne , a miniature horse standing at just 32” high. Despite her height she is the big woman on campus at Sycamore Lane Therapeutic Riding Center which is a remarkable facility, safe, state of the art, wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant, serving the therapeutic riding needs of all members of our Oregon City community, especially those with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Come and meet Champagne , she is sweet, loving and has a great personality…. she’ll be the first horse ever at the OC Market!  Check out SLTRC and learn about their 1st annual Warrior Run, July 28th…very wonderful cause!(http://www.sycamorelane.org/)

And to keep the Kid’s POP Club going we are selling cute 23″ Carrots ($5) to decorate your flower-beds or drive-way…also we accept donations of any amount to keep this award-winning kids program going! (we are a 501c3 non-profit so tax-deductible receipts available) Kids get $2 every time they come to Market to shop for fresh fruits and veggies and food plants…but we don’t charge for kids to register and give out approx. $450-$500 a week…so we need support if we are to keep this good thing going:) Thanks to all who came out last Friday evening to Singer Hill Cafe for our POP Club Fundraiser..and thanks to Singer Hill Cafe for the donated $25 gift card …congrats to Susan Z. who won it!!

Gorgeous sun-warmed, sweet, juicy Peaches and Nectarines..now in!

The Market accepts Debit and OR Trail Cards ($5 Match still available for the OR Trail Card thanks to our friends at New Seasons!)…and all our farmers accept the WIC checks and coupons.

Hot food and cool treats available….. cool sounds too from Jesse Lee Young…guitarist/singer playing swing, bossa, and blues…with a generous sprinkling of influence from the City of New Orleans where he lived before Katrina sent him packing for the Northwest…and it’s our gain:)

Fun, food and familiar faces…all make the Market a destination for  our loyal, wonderful customers…for whom In Local We Love has become a reality!  Spread the news:)

We’ll be set up Saturdays through October on the parking lot at 2051, Kaen Rd off Beavercreek Rd, 9-2.   Join us Wednesdays downtown on 8th St, 3-7pm for the small but mighty mid-week market:)