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[FOOD & WIne]<br />
Eat Local<br />
Story and photos by Elizabeth Schwartz<br />
It’s high summer, and even if you’re not making an active effort<br />
to eat local, it’s just about impossible to go a day without ingesting<br />
something that has been locally grown or raised within 50<br />
miles of Portland.<br />
All of the Portland metro area’s 50+ farmers markets are<br />
open and in full swing, and savvy shoppers know to arrive<br />
before the opening bell to ensure the best selections. And<br />
farmers markets aren’t just a Portland phenomenon; according<br />
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 7,175 farmers markets<br />
operated throughout the United States in 2011, a 17 percent<br />
increase from 2010. Most farmers markets in Portland are open<br />
from mid-May through September or October, but, thanks<br />
to consumer demand, more are transitioning to year-round<br />
service, like the Hillsdale, Hollywood and Portland farmers<br />
markets. Many farmers markets also offer electronic benefits<br />
transfer (EBT) for people enrolled in SNAP (the Supplemental<br />
Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps).<br />
A growing number of markets are offering two-for-one SNAP<br />
benefits, which allows SNAP participants to stretch the value of<br />
their food dollars when they buy high-quality, locally produced<br />
foods at their neighborhood farmers market.<br />
The Pacific Northwest is also blessed with an abundance of<br />
CSAs, Community Supported Agriculture programs. Farmers<br />
sell subscriptions, or shares, in their annual crop yield to community<br />
members/subscribers. A weekly share usually consists<br />
of locally grown, freshly picked seasonal vegetables and fruits.<br />
Some CSAs also offer eggs, meat and poultry. According to the<br />
website Local Harvest, 99 of the 215 statewide CSAs serve the<br />
Portland area.<br />
There’s no accurate way to estimate the number of Portlanders<br />
who grow or raise some percentage of their own food, but one<br />
indication of the popularity of gardening here is the three-year<br />
waiting list for a plot in Portland’s community gardens. Another<br />
indicator is the increasing number of classes that teach people<br />
38 JULY 2012 | OREGON JEWISH LIFE
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