There’s no better way to savor regional flavors—and meet like-minded locavores—than to peruse the stalls of local farmers markets. These bustling agoras thrive most of the year, even in many small towns, in the temperate Northwest.
And the markets bring a lot more to the table than wholesome farm fare. Live music and local arts and crafts lend most of them a festive air, and in addition to glorious greens, juicy tomatoes, organic lamb sausages, and just-caught Dungeness crab, plenty of vendors sell more easily transportable goods with long shelf lives: Marionberry preserves, earthy Pinot Noirs, roasted hazelnuts, lavender soaps, truffle oils, artisan chocolates. Of course, you can always eat your spoils straightaway: everything from sage-gravy biscuit sandwiches (Portland’s Pine State Biscuits) to curried red-snapper chowder (Vancouver’s Stock Pot) are sold at on-site food carts and lunch counters.
Here’s a taste of what you’ll find in four of the region’s top cities.
Granville Island Market, Vancouver
Very much the entrée on Granville Island’s extensive menu of attractions, the expansive daily market is de rigueur for everyone from top chefs to tourists. Food takes center stage, but artisans and buskers play bit parts here. WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Chewy Montréal-style bagels, crusty peasant bread, salmon candy, and maple syrup. Try Oyama Sausage’s butter-chicken sausage or the prosciutto links they conjure up from artisan sake kasu. On chilly days, Stock Pot’s three daily soups (fish, meat, vegetarian) elicit delicious indecision. Avoid post-nosh sleepiness with a cup of the best coffee on-island, along with sassy service, at Petit Ami, or sip Granville Island Tea’s fragrant black tea with vanilla and pomegranate. Anderson Street at W Second Avenue | 604-666-5784 | granvilleisland.com
Moss Street Community Market, Victoria
Victoria’s oldest, biggest, most popular organic market, Moss Street runs on Saturdays from May through October (with mini-markets in April and early November). The more than 90 vendors bake, make, or grow all of their wares. WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Silver and copper jewelry, artichoke pesto, Key lime marmalade, coconut-raspberry-lemon tarts, blue and green Ameraucana eggs, some sweet deals on honey (there are three merchants, including Cottlestone Apiary, known for its tasty wildflower honey), and bright round wheels of Salt Spring Island and Little Qualicum cheeses. Moss Street at Fairfield Road | 250-361-1747 | mossstreetmarket.com
Pike Place Market, Seattle
Operating for 105 years but still as fresh as Washington State cherries in June, Pike Place is a riot of flavors, colors, and characters. Open 362 days a year and crammed with almost 500 vendors, the venerable institution is part-market, part–dining destination, and part–street theater. WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Art Deco antiques, Chinese scarves, sheepskin slippers, fishmongers (famed for tossing fish back and forth), the original Starbucks, both casual and haute restaurants, and everything else edible and often incredible. Don’t miss the apple-cinnamon rolls from Piroshky Russian Bakery, sliced “Ohmygod Peaches” from Sosio’s produce stand, and Beecher’s spicy, smoky “No Woman No Cry” cheese. 1501 Pike Pl. | 206-682-7453 | pikeplacemarket.org
Portland Farmers Market at PSU
Possibly downtown’s best people-watching perch, the Saturday market at Portland State University fills early with locals chatting up vendors, students stocking up for the weekend, and tourists seeking a memorable bite of Portlandia. WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Open till 2 p.m., March through December, this colony of 160 vendors features deliciously stinky blue cheese from Rogue Creamery, lavender ice cream sandwiches from Ruby Jewel, artisan charcuterie from Chop Butchery, and roasted hazelnuts from Freddy Guys. Lesbian-owned Black Sheep Bakery proffers triple-berry galettes and cashew-crispy squares, and Temptress Truffles sells Oregon chanterelles and black truffles. South Park Blocks between SW Montgomery and SW Hall Streets | 503-241-0032 | portlandfarmersmarket.org