Parkrose Farmers Market goes fallow for the winter

Learn about the successes of this long-standing market, and changes they may make next year …

The yard signs along NE Halsey Street point the way to the Parkrose Farmers Market.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
The Parkrose Farmers Market was the first in outer East Portland to open for the season, and the first to offer an additional mid-week market this year.

“And, this year we moved it to Parkrose Community United Church of Christ,” said Market Manager Ron Glanville, at the last market day for the season on October 11.

Venders of prepared Hispanic food Nicholas Bautilta Ortiza and Zoila Gonzalez spend a moment with Parkrose Farmers Market Manager Ron Glanville.

“Moving the market here, from Parkrose High School where it started, gave us the advantage of the better visibility at this location,” Glanville told East Portland News. “It looks like it’s worked out well.”

At the height of the market season, the Parkrose Farmers Market attracted about 900 shoppers per week. “It’s a pretty good flow of people,” Glanville observed.

The not-for-profit market, primarily a volunteer effort, has been worth the work, Glanville said, as his first year managing the market came to a close.

Even on a cold, blustery day, intrepid shoppers come to the Parkrose Farmers Market’s last day of the season.

“A lot of it has to do with our mission; a lot of us wanting to have good fresh food in the community,” Glanville explained. “This includes especially good fresh produce. But it’s also so that we can help the small entrepreneur. This is one of the good things that happen at farmers markets – people can get a start in business, in this type of marketplace.”

While they may host a “Mother’s Day Market”, he said they’ll probably otherwise open in June for the 2015 season.

“We look forward to being here next season,” Glanville smiled. “Next year we’ll have a few minor changes, but will have pretty much the same thing. We will have a meeting later this year with all of our vendors, and see what they think about issues such as hosting a mid-week market again.

“We want to please the vendors, but we also need to make the market work,” Glanville added. “Most of our 25 vendors say they’re eager to come back next season.”

Richard Moller with Columbia River Smoked Salmon affirms that he’ll be back next season.

After all the bills are paid, Glanville said their association will donate some of the money to nonprofit organizations and other community groups. “There is no ‘profit’ for the market organization itself – it ends up just being a benefit to the community.”

Stay in touch by checking their website, even during the off season: CLICK HERE. Or, look for them on their Facebook page.

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