I am a first generation American: my mother was from Finland and my father from Greece. I was fortunate to be able to go to Finland several times as a child and spend time with my grandparents and cousins. One of my memories was walking downtown with my grandmother to the local farmer’s market. Despite growing up in corn country in Illinois, we didn’t have easy access to a farmer’s market, not like the one that was just a couple of blocks away from my grandparents place. It was open twice a week and the sweet peas were to die for…
Now for those of you considering a relocation to Salem Oregon, rest assured that we have farmer’s markets here. The slide show in this post is from the Salem Saturday Market.
The market opens in April and runs through October. Open every Saturday from 9-3, it is a busy place. Local produce and flowers are a top draw, but several local artisans offer their artwork. My son, who collects rocks, was enamored with “the rock guy.”
Regardless of your motivation, it is a good way to get some of our fresh local produce every Saturday. The Saturday Market is located on the corner of Summer and Marion streets here in Salem Oregon, and there is parking across the street in the lot.
I seriously miss the “Island Noodles” guy who was at the Farmer’s Market last year. He had some of the best noodles I’ve ever had!
But even without his presence, I still have to go to the market to get my fill of some of the finest fresh fruit and veggies you can get around here. I think I may cry when the blueberries are gone.
Rob fresh local produce is so good. It’s amazing the difference in taste when you know it was picked recently.
Please let people know about the Friends of Salem Saturday Market, a hardworking tiny new nonprofit that has already improved the market, giving away a wonderful basket of market goods each week, organizing free valet bike parking and offering a FREE 8-week food preservation class taught by a wonderful woman (and local businesswoman) from the Oregon State Extension service. They are constantly looking for ideas for making the Salem Saturday Market even better.
You can find out more and join the FSSM here:
http://www.friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.org/
and they have a blog here
http://friendsofsalemsaturdaymarket.wordpress.com/
Recent Buyer,
I saw the valet bike parking sign a couple of weeks ago and thought that was a great idea. For folks coming from other areas of the country that are avid farmer’s market attendees, they may have some great ideas for what they liked in their area. I will amend my post to add those links in it this afternoon.