The crowds that gather in Lake Oswego’s Millennium Plaza Park on Saturday mornings from mid May to mid October already know that the town’s Farmers’ Market is as good a wake-up call as a rooster’s cock-a-doodle-doo.

From beautiful floral bouquets to fresh picked organic produce to gourmet cheese, there is more than one reason to find your way to Lake Oswego’s outdoor living room where over 80 vendors set up shop, musicians play, and volunteers will even watch your dog for free!

Market organizers aren’t content to roll out the same show every year. That’s why this Farmers’ Market season you’ll find some changes that market manager, Jamie Inglis, is really excited about.

• Blue Raeven Farmstand joins the lineup offering fresh baked pies featuring produce from their farm. Take your pick from large, 5” mini pies and pocket pies. Blue Raeven’s goodies have been a hit at the annual 4th of July celebration so it will be nice to enjoy them all summer long.
• Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider will be on hand every other week this season. Another “started in a garage” success story, Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider is made with Oregon and Washington grown apples, including some from another market vendor, Kyokawa Orchards. The cidery creates dry and off-dry hard ciders in a wide range of styles and can be found at Zupan’s, New Seasons and Whole Foods as well as our own Farmers’ Market.
• TbeeS fills in the honey vendor void the market had since 2012. Ron Stark will be selling his raw bee products (honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly), as well as serving as the market’s go-to expert for “everything you wanted to know about bees but didn’t know who to ask.”
• Sterling Cookies gives culinary meaning to the saying, “Good things come in small packages.” Owner Joe Sterling’s two bite cookies, brownies, tarts and macaroons are favorites at other local Farmers’ Markets including Beaverton and Vancouver and will be adding Lake Oswego market goers to a growing list of fans.
• Paul’s Paella brings this Spanish rice dish to our outdoor market as a feast to your tastebuds as well as your eyes. You can watch Paul cook it up as he mixes in favorite ingredients like chicken, chorizo, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, smoked paprika…mouth watering yet? Gluten free foodies—count this one on your list!
• Parsons Farm fans don’t have to bemoan the closing of the popular stand on the corner of Carman Drive and Kruse Way due to the new development there because they’ll be a regular at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market, offering a variety of fruits and vegetables grown on their four farms in Canby, Sherwood, Dayton, and Dundee.
• Rossi Farms returns to the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market after a long hiatus (their last year here was 2006). One of the original vendors when the market started in 2001, they’ll be selling a variety of heirloom potatoes grown on their Parkrose Community farm which has been in operation since 1880.
• Meals on Wheels from our Farms’ Fields is a new service opportunity for market patrons to give to the Meals on Wheels program at the Adult Community Center in two ways: purchase fresh foods from market vendors that will be used in meals cooked for the ACC program or donate cash.
• CPR Anytime Training will be offered onsite on Saturday, June 28. Market patrons can learn CPR Anytime, a program developed by the American Heart Association that teaches the core skills of CPR in just 30 minutes. Public Safety officials will teach the program under the green canopy at the elevated stage at the park. The training features the hands-only CPR method.

The Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market opens this Saturday, May 17, at the corner of First and Evergreen in Millennium Plaza Park from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check the website for more details.

***Remember Oswego Heritage Council’s Historic Home Tour this Saturday too. The Jantzen Estate will be one of the homes featured. Tickets available online.

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