INCLUDES COLORFUL EVENT VIDEO | Discover why residents in the Lents neighborhood gathered on a brisk autumn morning to share free resources, enjoy live performances, and support local growers …
Autumn skies set the scene as this latest Lents Cultural & Resource Fair gets underway in The Zed parking lot on SE 92nd Avenue.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Fall-like cool weather, and high overcast skies, greeted visitors to Lents Town Center on Sunday morning, September 20th. As one might expect of the season, the crisp morning air signaled the arrival of autumn, and the Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) had prepared for a special community celebration.
Take a video tour of the market, the Resource Fair, and Cultural Entertainment in our video:
At the 10 a.m. opening bell, LIFM vendors stood ready in The Zed parking lot on SE 92nd Avenue –a block north of Foster Road, at Reedway Street.
Early shoppers arrived promptly to browse fresh produce and attend the concurrent Lents Cultural & Resource Fair.
At this latest LIFM, business is brisk at the Kiyokawa Family Orchards booth as marketgoers stop by for fresh seasonal fruit.
As the morning progressed, more and more people streamed into the marketplace, turning the lot into a bustling hub of neighborhood activity.
The free outer East Portland family festival, running from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., represented a joint effort between Portland Farmers Market – which operates the LIFM – and the East Portland Collective.
Market strengthened by long-standing roots
Just after the opening bell, LIFM Manager Rae Pickens greets shoppers arriving to browse fresh local produce and to explore neighborhood resources.
The seasonal market continues to thrive as an anchor for the surrounding neighborhood. “The season’s been lovely,” shared LIFM Manager Rae Pickens. “We have a really strong local neighborhood community here in Lents, and we have a fantastic really-loyal group of vendors, farmers, fishers, ranchers, and food artisans.”
Pickens remarked that the market hosts approximately 13 regular vendors each week. Unlike many other markets in which there is high vendor turnover, LIFM boasts remarkable stability.
Fresh seasonal vegetables attract shoppers at the Sunrise Organic Farm stand, where the produce has been brought up from Albany, down the valley.
“What’s really special about this market is that the vendors do come back week after week and year after year,” Pickens pointed out. “Some of the vendors that we have here have been with our market for more than 15 years, since the market opened… So there’s a really good community that’s been built over the course of 10 to 12 years.”
In addition to providing fresh food, the market plays a crucial role in supporting the neighborhood’s financial health, and social cohesion.
Stationed in the Kids Activities booth is LIFM’s Julie Peach, welcoming young visitors and families to the day’s festivities.
“Contributing to the local economy is really fantastic,” Pickens emphasized. “The dollars go directly to your neighbors, which is great. You know exactly where your food comes from, and you can ask the farmers questions directly about their growing practices, where they grow, and how to cook what they grow!”
Resource Fair builds neighborhood resilience
Free information, clothing, and other useful items attract local neighbors to the Lents Resource Fair.
Alongside the agricultural offerings, community organizations gathered to provide direct assistance, skill-sharing workshops, and free goods.
“We have some really fantastic community partners,” Pickens observed. “Green Lents is here today, along with the East Portland Collective volunteers who are producing our resource fair.
The community that comes around farmers markets is incredibly special.”
East Portland Collective Founding Executive Director Sabina Urdes shows items from the free community clothing closet.
Sabina Urdes of the East Portland Collective detailed the primary objective behind organizing the “resource fair” portion of the day: “It’s for neighbors to come together and gain awareness of all the resources that we have in our community. We brought the free community clothing closet, and are providing free craft workshops, like sewing demonstrations.”
Demonstrating sewing machine techniques in the East Portland Collective area, Morgin Carpenter shares practical skills with fairgoers.
Participants also explored services provided by groups such as Lents Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NET), Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry, and Thrive East PDX.
Urdes explained that establishing these personal connections is vital for long-term community safety and self-reliance.
Mark Crummett with Lents Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) displays some of his team’s emergency response equipment during the Lents Cultural & Resource Fair.
“It’s meant for neighbors to get to know each other, and then also get to know the resources that are available around them, so that we can build a more resilient community,” Urdes remarked. “It can also be useful in the event of an extreme weather event or a catastrophe – to know who is in your immediate vicinity, and what kind of resources are available to you”.
Vibrant cultural celebration
Cultural entertainment added extra energy to the morning festivities. At 11 a.m., members of the Portland Lee’s Association Dragon & Lion Dance Team took center stage, showcasing the vibrant spirit and diverse heritage of the Lents community with a traditional performance.
Members of the Portland Lee’s Association Dragon & Lion Dance Team entertain the crowd with a vibrant performance during the morning festivities.
Throughout the afternoon, families enjoyed interactive workshops, connected with service providers, and picked up complimentary items – all while supporting local growers at the weekly market.
So, what’s happening at the Lents International Farmers Market this Sunday? Check out their official webpage: CLICK HERE.
On our Front Page: This friendly farmer, Ricardo Miranda Diaz with Bonifacio Garden in Boring Oregon, greets shoppers at LIFM Sunday markets.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
