Portland Farmers Market: Winter

The Portland Farmers Market, even in the dark of winter, threatened by rain storms and flooding, was filled with beautiful wonders. Instantly after entering the market I was drawn to the yellow gold carrots and golden beets of epic proportion.

Carrot honey produced by a local farmer who grows carrots for their seeds, not their roots. He sells the seeds, and before the flower matures, bees gather the pollen from the carrot flowers and make this unique honey.

Even in winter greens plentiful. Kales, chards, beet greens and more. Colorful and full of life, they manage to survive the cold and decorate our plate with shades of green, purple and red.

The Gee Creek Mill from Ridgefield, WA provided the market with a large variety of alternative grains and flours. Spelt, oat, sorghum and quinoa flour. Kamut and gluten-free pancake mix. Rolled oats and steel cut oats.

Wild mushrooms were in abundance. Their exotic and mystical shapes and colors filled large wicker baskets.

Old school apples were like rays of sunshine. The bright reds and yellows, against the misty grey of the Portland sky. Not photographed but dutifully admired included coolers full of locally raised meat, Rogue Creamery cheese, Oregon hazelnuts and booths preparing bowls of steaming soups and platters of tacos.