Last week, my neighbor Geoff Brownell told me about the 9th annual “Central Oregon Fill Your Pantry” event at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The event was a bulk buying farmer’s market and food was being sold in 25 and 50 pound bags and boxes. Jerry and I were already planning to go shopping in Redmond on Saturday so we decided that I would attend the event while he shopped at Walmart. This was an opportunity to stock up for the winter, just like folks did back in the “olden days” before grocery stores and supermarkets. The market was a joint effort between the Bend Farmer’s Market and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance. Food was available to all including people who are on EBT and they even offered double up food bucks. Customers could also pre-order.
Oh my, what a sight! The parking lot was jam packed with vendors, 35 in all – farmers, ranchers, fishermen, bee keepers, orchardists and artisan producers who had set up artistic displays to sell vegetables, fruits, baked goods, bee products, meat, seafood, cheese, dry goods and pantry staples, flowers and ferments. This was clearly the grand finale farmer’s market and it was definitely over the top.
Hundreds, if not thousands of “locavores”, people who buy locally grown food, milled around with carts, wheelbarrows and baby strollers overflowing with food. I didn’t expect to see so many people so I paused at the entrance to survey the situation and plan my strategy. I decided to wander around to see what was there then buy later. The displays were truly visual feasts. Clearly the vendors had put much tender loving care into creating each one. Tables were overflowing with colorful potatoes, onions, cabbages, leeks, beets, winter squash, garlic, honey, apples, pears, dried beans, krauts and pickles, baked goods and meat. What vibrant aliveness! An earthy scent wafted through the air.
I walked around in awe and didn’t know where to start. My first purchase was a bunch of carrots that I couldn’t stop eating because they were so incredibly good. They were sweet, almost like candy and felt like complete nourishment. I bought some spinach and that night made a wilted salad of pecans, bacon, blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette that was out-of-this-world delicious. I was frustrated that I wasn’t able to carry as much as I wanted to buy, so I ended up with a sampling of things and made a plan to go back next year and bring something with wheels.
Next year we could go with our friends and neighbors on a food-pooling trip and share the travel expense. Thank you, Geoff, for telling me about this fun and amazing event. http://www.centraloregonfillyourpantry.com.
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