Sunshine brings Market bounty

Coming very soon to your Cedar Mill Farmers' Market—open 8 - 1 every Saturday through October, just west of Murray on NW Cornell Road (hosted by merchants in the Sunset Mall parking lot): STRAWBERRIES, CHERRIES, AND OTHER BERRIES in addition to a great selection of vegetable produce!

We knew it had to get here sooner or later, and finally Spring has made its appearance in the Portland area. Whew! Now all that great local produce can really get growing. This is the latest spring in the memory of many, many locals. But you work with the hand Mother Nature deals and we've got more veggies every week at the THPRD's Cedar Mill Farmers' Market, thank goodness. Strawberries are even showing up, though they are a month late! Ken of Efimoff Organic Berries reports that they expect to be at the Market the second Saturday of June with delicious local strawberries. Other berries won't be far behind! Townsend Farm expects to have enough berries to share at the Market by late June. And we know that mid-June will surely bring Jason and his local Baird's Orchards cherries—all those great varieties; they're incomparably delicious!

Martinez Family Farm's lettuce heads are getting to a respectable size to join their rhubarb, leeks, asparagus, radishes, cilantro, parsley, sweet onions, beets, spinach, basil starts, and more at the Market. DeMartini Family Farm and Green Acres are also bringing us a respectable variety of locally-grown goodness including fresh-picked peas, carrots, chard, kale, mustard greens, bok choy, baby zucchini, and just a few San Andreas strawberries from the Green Acres Greenhouse. Young local farmer, Margeaux, is gathering up dozens of fresh chicken eggs to get to the Market on Saturdays, so look for her booth and get yourself eggs laid perhaps just hours ago and only about 2 miles from the Market site. Isn't that cool?

Don't forget about the beautiful fresh flower bouquets brought to Cedar Mill for us by Vanessa's family. Of course, the cold weather has slowed down local flower growth as well, but somehow, Vanessa, Thao, and the kids always manage to pull together spectacular bouquets with whatever flowers are ready to pick each week. Amazing! Why would you buy a bouquet anywhere else? Did you know that a lot of flowers you may be buying elsewhere could have been flown in from South America? No kidding! Buy locally and support the growers from the area as well as a sustainable planet.

For a different way to get your flowers, S & K Nursery has been delighting market-goers with their gorgeous, lush, HUGE hanging baskets. Pick your favorite color combination from a ton of choices (next to the Bandito Taco patio weekly).

Adelante Mujeres and others have lots and lots of healthy plant starts from which you can choose great stuff to plant in your own garden. If you're not familiar with them, perhaps you'd like to take a look at their website to read about this cool organization. In a few weeks, they'll be bringing their veggies to our Market, too. You support is much appreciated! Their participation at our Market is possible through a cooperative effort sponsored by New Seasons Markets.

Our friends from Galin-Flory Farm (all-natural practices: NO SPRAY) expect to join us at the Market by mid-June, too, as does Duyck's Peachy Pig Farm. It won't be long before the Market looks like a full-fledged FARMERS' MARKET again. Thanks for your patience through this late spring!

Of course, the Market has great breakfast and lunch food from the locals of Burnt Ends BBQ and from Homemade Happy Cuisine, as well as Great Harvest's local bakery items (fresh bread, scones, muffins, and more). Mmmm, don't forget your kettle corn and how about some locally-roasted coffee beans? The Olive Branch will get you set up with the best olives, olive oils, garlic, vinegars, and more. Guyot Family Farms folks make us delicious jams and jellies, including fantastic pepper jellies, all from their berries grown about 2 blocks from the Market site. You may know that a lot of local artisans bring their works to the Market each Saturday as well, but did you know that they graciously take turns fitting in and joining us at the Market during the peak-produce times of summer when it's just plain difficult to fit everyone in as farmers need more and more space? What a great bunch of friendly locals!

Volunteers are always welcome at THPRD's Cedar Mill Farmers' Market. Feel like contributing to your sustainable Cedar Mill community in a very meaningful way? Call or email (503-913-7733, cmfmarket@gmail.com) to sign up to volunteer for a few hours or for more if you like! We'd love to have you visit the friendliest little farmers' market you'll find anywhere!

THPRD's Cedar Mill Farmers' Market is even dog-friendly; that's right, your well-behaved dog is welcome, leashed and kept away from the produce of course. Contact the Market Manager anytime at cmfmarket@gmail.com with questions, ideas, anything! Come on out for a fun morning with your friends and neighbors, live music, free face-painting and balloon animals, and lots more, every Saturday. Hope to see you soon!

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