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Tomatoes Are (Still) The Taste Of Oregon Farmers Markets

Heirloom tomatoes, peppers and tomatillos

I recently moved to the Pacific Northwest's Willamette Valley after having spent many years living just outside Chicago. I will be sharing my food explorations around Portland, Oregon in a series of blog posts.

Oregon is known for its farmers markets. The state is home to roughly 160 farmers markets that showcase Oregon's colorful bounty. It makes being a locavore easy!

In search of the freshest seasonal produce, I explore the Beaverton Farmers Market. It is the single largest, all-agricultural market in Oregon. As many as 15,000 to 20,000 visitors walk the gallery of vendors on any given Saturday. Nursery growers, ranchers, farmers, and artisanal producers of you-name-it are all featured weekly. I find kombucha and freshly roasted coffee, spicy peppers and fruit jams, cheeses and cheesecake. And I can't forget the seafood (hello, smoked salmon). This market truly has it all.

We scouted out what vendors had to offer in terms of early fall produce. What we discovered is it's still tomato season at Beaverton.

Denison Farms grows organic fruits and vegetables. Their late-summer bounty includes heirloom tomatoes like Beefsteak and Sweet Girl. Cherry tomatoes in reds, oranges and yellows are also available in small baskets.

Spring Hill Farm, which is based in Albany, Oregon, sells Early Girl, Brandywine and Cosmonaut tomatoes in bright yellow crates. Brandywines are considered some of the best tasting, and they can weigh up to one and a half pounds.

A family farm in Tillamook, DeNoble Farms sells sweet Sun Gold cherry tomatoes, hybrids orange in color. The Sun Gold is on the verge of becoming the most popular type of cherry tomato for customers. Rossi Farms sells baskets of the cherry tomatoes, too, alongside their ground cherries.

Sosa Farms specializes in tomatoes and peppers, offering market-goers salsa kits featuring tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime and seven varieties of sweet and spicy peppers.

Gathering Together Farms offers the largest tomato selection with seventeen varieties, all certified organic.

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