Fresh food abounds at Lents International Farmers Market

See why this outer East Portland farmers market continues to flourish, attracting shoppers every Sunday …

Every Sunday, folks gather to meet and greet, dine and shop, here – at the Lents International Farmers Market.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

It was founded in 2006 by community volunteers, and it changed locations several times as Lents Town Center construction began; but, for the last several years, the Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) has been settled into a great location on SE 92^nd Avenue, just north of Foster Road.

Under management provided by the Portland Farmers Market team, this great outdoor market continues to provide fresh and prepared food, entertainment, and kids’ activities, every Sunday.

This continues to be a good season for the Market, remarks LIFM Market Manager David Oberstein.

“We’re having a good season; the Market has been busy – and, thankfully, we’ve had beautiful weather this summer,” smiled LIFM Market Manager David Oberstein, during our “mid-season market report” visit to the Market on August 25.

“In addition to our regular shoppers, we’ve also had a lot of community events in our neighborhood which brought out additional people; so, attendance numbers are up from last year,” Oberstein told East Portland News. “Typically we see about 1,000 people come each Sunday.”

She’s a happy shopper, says Ruth Blake from the Lents neighborhood, as she selects fresh veggies to purchase from N & N Amaro Produce.

“Kids Cooking” leader Mel Shea helps Aubrey Dunlap make fresh gazpacho from vegetables the youngster has chosen.

The Market is supported by the neighbors – as well as those who travel to the market from some distance – who shop there every week, Oberstein observed. “We’ve gotten to recognize a lot of the faces of our returning shoppers, partly because of the variety of food here, and also because it’s a nice community meeting spot where families come to enjoy themselves!”

From a pool of about 15 vendors, at least a dozen come to the Market every week, depending on the growing season. “You can almost do all of your grocery shopping here — we have fruits, vegetables, bread, and eggs, as well as delicious prepared food,” Oberstein pointed out.

Serving steaming hot, ready-to-eat food here’s Christina Genaro-Chaves with Tamales Poblanos.

Originally from the Lents neighborhood, the Foss family returns to visit their favorite farmers market from their new home in Northeast Portland.

Looking to the future, Oberstein observed, “Late summer and fall is a great time to come to the Market; we’re seeing kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, in addition to summer produce and fruits. Look for peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, peaches, plums – and soon, fall fruit, like pears and apples.”

The Lents International Farmers Market is open from 9:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Sunday through the last weekend before Thanksgiving, November 24. You’ll find it in the Zoiglhaus Brewery parking lot on SE 92^nd Avenue, between Foster Road and Harold Street.

For more information, see their website: CLICK HERE.

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