The HFM Grapevine
The Official Newsletter of the Hillsdale Farmers' Market Vol. 3 Issue 8
"All the news that's fresh, we print"

Vendor Profile: Flamingo Ridge Farm
As co-owner Charlie Harris tells it, the concept of Flamingo Ridge Farm grew from seeds that were first planted in his mind as a small boy. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, he and his family would frequently travel down to Louisiana and Texas to visit relatives who operated small farms there. On one of those trips, young Charlie was taken to a chicken farm where he was greeted by his uncle. and a powerful odor.
"I asked my uncle what that smell was," Harris recalls. "He told me: It's the smell of money, son.' "

In spite of his uncle's counsel, Harris did not immediately grow up into a life of grime. Yet, eventually, fate nudged him in that direction. Following a stint with Union Pacific Railroad, Harris found work with the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency responsible for building and administering water delivery systems to farmlands. In his work for the Bureau, he would frequently visit farms in Eastern Washington.

"Those farms really amazed me," Harris says. "Six to eight hundred acres of lush green fields in the middle of otherwise barren desert! But after a while I also came to realize that a lot of the irrigation water we were sending them was going to waste."

Harris was laid off from the Bureau in the early 1980s. Fortunately, he had developed a little side business selling irrigation spray supplements to the controversial guru, Baghwan Shree Rajneesh. Although he failed to match the impressive sales figures of the Baghwan's Rolls Royce dealer, Harris did very well for himself. More importantly, he got a close-up look at Rajneesh's agricultural operation that he says was quite innovative and a far cry from what he'd seen while working for the Bureau of Reclamation.

"They had this really clever technique for recycling and conserving water that enabled them to keep their crops well-irrigated even during the driest times of the year."

It wasn't long afterwards that Harris had the opportunity to try some of those techniques himself. Using the proceeds from his sales to Rajneesh, he and his wife Deva (to whom Harris credits most of his success) purchased five acres of land near Gaston, Oregon and Flamingo Ridge Farm was born. Soon Flamingo Ridge was a year round operation, recycling winter water for re-use in the summer. Harris reports that recycling allows him to capture and store 1.2 million gallons of water over the course of a winter.

Today, over 20 years later, Flamingo Ridge sells its produce to several well-known Portland establishments including Zupan's stores, and Higgins, Paley's & Wildwood restaurants. In the spring of 2002, Greg Higgins (of Higgins' Restaurant) told Harris about a new farmers' market that was about to open in the Hillsdale neighborhood.

"I was completely uninterested," Harris admits. "I felt satisfied with the scope of my business and did not want to take on any new responsibilities."

But Higgins persisted until Harris agreed to attend a market vendors' meeting. He says that once he saw the level of commitment and enthusiasm of the people involved with the market, he just kind of fell right in. Today Flamingo Ridge sells at four Portland area markets, but Hillsdale is the only one that Harris personally attends. He says the market's friendly, community-based atmosphere keeps him mindful of why he got into farming in the first place.

"After I left the Bureau of Reclamation, I decided not to look for another 'real' job. I didn't want a career; I wanted a lifestyle. Now I get to have fun, spend time outdoors and stay in good physical shape. To do all that and make a few bucks as well, what more could anyone ask?"

Eamon Corner
By Eamon Molloy, Market Manager

We will be experimenting with a new market layout over the next few weeks. We're expanding west to the back half of the parking lot in order to include Garbonzo's restaurant into the market! The new arrangement also enables us to add six stall spaces to the market... The additional stalls will all be allocated to current vendors who need the extra space. In order to accommodate these changes, some of our vendors will be moving from their usual spots, so if you can't find one of your favorite vendors come to the information booth and one of our friendly volunteers will point you in the right direction... We'll also be providing a comment board for you to post your opinions on the new layout.

And now for something a little different .The market has had strawberry festivals, tomato manias, ice cream sundaes, clowns but nothing for our well-behaved four legged friends who visit the market. Not anymore! On August 29, Pauline Smith will be doing pet portraits at the market. I guess this gives a new meaning to the dog days of summer.

Sue's Recipe o' the Week

Jalapeno Crab Dip
1 pound Linda Brand crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapenos
1/4 pound Willamette Valley Monterey Jack cheese with jalapenos, grated
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the crabmeat, garlic, jalapenos, Monterey Jack, Worcestershire, hot sauce, salt, and mayonnaise in a medium-size mixing bowl.
3. Toss gently to mix.
4. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly on the top of the crabmeat mixture in an oven proof baking dish.
5. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 25 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and let sit for about 5 minutes before serving with crostini.

What's Fresh for August 22
Once again, it's time to get your pencil, paper and cookbooks handy and start planning those menus for the week ahead. Here's what you can expect to find, fresh, at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market on Sunday.

Aklavik Mushrooms, Portland (St. John's):
Herbs & Spices: Basil.
Mushrooms: Lobster, Maitake, Shiitake.
Other: Cee Gwa (Asian Veggie), Nopales (Cactus, similar to Prickly Pear)
Coming Soon: Porcini Mushrooms.

Ayers Creek Farm, Gaston:
Beans & Peas: Pole beans.
Berries.Fruit: Blackberries (Chester) Melons (Charentais, Galia, Ha'ogen, Petit Gris), Plums.
Bulb.Root Veggies: Beets.
Herbs & Spices: Fennel.
Leafy Greens: Chard.
Other: Zucchini.

Baird Family Orchards, Dayton:
Berries.Fruit: Nectarines, Peaches.

Bear Creek Floral, Tillamook:
Other: Artichokes.

Deep Roots Farm, Albany:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Purple Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries.Fruit: Cantaloupe, Watermelon (Yellow & Red Seedless).
Bulb.Root Veggies: Beets, Elephant Garlic, Garlic, Potatoes, Shallots, Turnips, Sweet Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Fennel.
Leafy Greens: Chard, Collards, Dandelion, Escarole, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach.
Other: Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Earthshine Gardens, Sherwood:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans.
Bulb.Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes (Red, White, Yellow).
Herbs & Spices: Basil.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage, Endive, Lettuce, Salad Mix.
Other: Cauliflower, Cherry Tomatoes, Cukes, Eggplant, Heirloom Tomatoes, Lemon Cukes, Peppers, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Flamingo Ridge Farm, Gaston:
Other: Cucumbers, Eggplants, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes.

Gee Creek Farm, Ridgefield, WA:
Beans & Peas: Fillet Beans, Green Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries.Fruit: Apples.
Bulb. Root Veggies: Carrots, Green Onions, Onions, Radishes.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Cilantro, Fennel, Italian Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage (Green & Red), Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Mesclun.
Other: Baby Squash, Broccoli, Corn, Eggplant, Lemon Cukes, Middle Eastern Cukes, Peppers, Pickling Cukes, West Indian Gherkins.
Coming Soon: Tomatoes.

Happy Harvest Farm, Mt. Angel:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans.
Berries.Fruit: Apples, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Italian Prunes, Nectarines, Peaches, Watermelon (Yellow).
Other: Broccoli, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lemon Cukes, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Liepold Farm, Boring:
Berries.Fruit: Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries.

Lone Elder Farm, Canby:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Roma Beans, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas.
Berries. Fruit: Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Nectarines, Peaches, Watermelon (Red, Yellow).
Bulb.Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Green Onions, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Potatoes (Red, Yukon Gold), Radishes, Red Onions, Sweet Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Chard, Lettuce (7 varieties), Spinach.
Other: Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Peppers, Rhubarb, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Packer Orchard, Hood River:
Berries.Fruit: Peaches.

Rick Steffen Farm, Silverton:
Berries.Fruit: Apples, Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Cherries, Peaches, Raspberries, Shiro Plums.
Bulb.Root Veggies: Sweet Onions.
Other: Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Cukes, Okra, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Salmon Creek Farm:
Other: Cukes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes (Hydroponic)

Stephens Farm (Dayton):
Berries. Fruit: Apples (Williams Pride, Gravenstein), Yellow Plums
Other: Summer Squash.

Unger Farms, Cornelius:
Berries.Fruit: Blueberries, Strawberries (Selva).
Upcoming Market Guests & Events

Musical Guests
August 22: Beltaine (Celtic folk)
August 29: Hamilton Street Quartet (jazz)
September 5: Tall Static (blues)

Special Events:
September 12, 2004: Hillsdale Feed Me Fresh Festival, 5 PM to 8 PM at the market's regular location: Come celebrate our market, our community and locally grown and prepared foods with local restaurants and stores (Alba, Jopa, Capitol Coffeehouse & Bistro, Garbonzo's, Market of Choice and Three Square Grill) and market vendors such as Secret Aardvark and Copper Crown Food. Tickets for the event are $5 ($6 at the door) and include a drink. Proceeds from the event will help underwrite the costs of the Hillsdale Winter Market. Tickets may be purchased at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market (Sundays 10AM-2PM) or by mail by sending a check to: Hillsdale Farmers' Market, 1509 SW Sunset Blvd Suite 2E Portland, OR 97239. For more information call 503.475.6555.

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Subject: Grapevine #7
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2004 7:52 PM
From: gewgaw
To: Undisclosed-Recipient

The HFM Grapevine
The Official Newsletter of the Hillsdale Farmers' Market Vol. 3 Issue 7
"All the news that's fresh, we print"

Woulda Walla
Walla onion by any other name still taste as sweet?
The question, as it turns out, is more than merely a poetic or philosophical one. During a recent visit to the Hillsdale Farmers‚ Market, I noticed a vendor who once sold Walla Walla sweet onions now offering just "sweet onions" instead. Curious, I asked him why he had switched.

"Actually," he replied, "this is the same variety of sweet onions I've always grown and sold."

He went on to say that he could no longer refer to those onions as "Walla Walla Sweets" without risking a visit and a fine from what he called "the Onion Police." I laughed and continued about my business. But a little Internet research later that day revealed that the vendor's words had been no joke.

Apparently, back in 1995, onion growers in the Walla Walla region petitioned the USDA to designate the Walla Walla Sweet Onion as a unique variety. The result was USDA Marketing Order No. 956 which established the Walla Walla valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon as a federally protected growing area and that "sweet onions grown outside this production area cannot be marketed as Walla Walla Sweet Onions or face stiff federal penalties."

In other words, "Walla Walla Sweet Onion" is now an official, federally protected brand name, much like Cheerios cereal or Kraft cheese. An article published by an economist from Washington State University shortly after Marketing Order 956 went into effect suggests this kind of branding could be used to boost crop sales in other agricultural regions. The author writes: "Substituting marketing orders for federal price and income support programs covering the major field crops has considerable appeal in today's budgetary environment because marketing orders involve no direct outlays from the U.S. Treasury." And while this program may indeed prove beneficial to the federal budget, the article also noted that it was too soon to say whether it had in fact benefited Walla Walla valley onion growers.

Regardless of its benefits, the marketing order still stands and vendors who run afoul of it do occasionally land in hot water. Consider the recent case of a Coeur d'Alene, Idaho greengrocer. In June of 2004, a produce market owner noticed one of his rivals marketing sweet onions designated as Walla Wallas. This struck the market owner as a bit odd since he knew the Walla Walla onion harvest did not officially begin until eight days later, on June 11. So he reported the matter to the Walla Walla Sweet Onion Marketing Committee and a reporter for the local newspaper resulting, at the very least, in no small embarrassment for the offending vendor.

All of which means that none of the sweet onions sold at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market are actually "official" Walla Walla Sweet Onions. Of course, this should in no way diminish anyone's enjoyment of the delicious, sweet onions that are now plentifully available at our market (And why not try to develop our own regional brand name, say, Willamette Valley Sweet Onions or, maybe even Willa Valla Sweets, for short). As for the answer to the question posed at the top of this article, well if any of our readers care to conduct a blind taste test comparing some of our region's sweet onions with those of the Walla Walla persuasion, I'd be very interested to learn the results

No Profile This Week
Owing to the excess verbosity evinced in the foregoing commentary, we find ourselves short of the requisite space for our customary vendor profile. However, I hereby offer my solemn assurance that in our subsequent issue ˆ due one fortnight hence- I will exercise an uncommon taciturnity in deference to our featured guest, the occasionally loquacious and always delightful Charlie Harris of Flamingo Ridge Farm.

Hillsdale Votes
Regular visitors know that at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market this year, politics are as much in season as berries, tomatoes and artichokes ˆ thanks to the presence of the Hillsdale Votes table at the market each week. A grassroots effort spearheaded by local activists Rick Seifert and Diana Ponder, the goal of Hillsdale Votes is 100% voter registration and turnout in our neighborhood for the November election.
This past Sunday, Hillsdale Votes polled HFM shoppers on their preferences for the upcoming presidential, congressional, mayoral and city council races. On Monday, Rick emailed us here at The Grapevine with the following report:

We had great participation. Although a surprising number of folks were voting averse, many were excited about having a chance to express themselves. A total of 536 ballots cast. Children, out-of-staters and foreigners were invited to vote. Perhaps 20 voters fell into these "illegal categories." Because of rounding, percentages don't add up to 100.

President (536 votes cast)- John F. Kerry: 480 votes, 89.6 %; George W. Bush: 36 votes 6.7%;
Ralph Nader: 4 votes, .07 %; Undecided: 16 votes 3%.

Congress (505 votes cast)- David Wu: 400 votes, 79.2%; Goli Ameri: 33 votes, 6.5%; Undecided: 72 votes, 14.3 %.

Mayor (496 votes cast) - Tom Potter: 358 votes, 72.2%; Jim Francesconi: 58 votes 11.7 %;
Undecided: 79 votes, 15.9%.

City Council (483 votes cast) - Nick Fish: 173 votes, 35.8%; Sam Adams: 119 votes, 24.6%;
Undecided: 191 votes, 39.5%.

Eamon Corner
By Eamon Molloy, Market Manager
My yard is probably typical of most yards in Southwest Portland: azaleas, rhododendrons, crocuses, tulips, daffodils, bleeding hearts and a few miscellaneous roses bring a variety of color to the yard. Then comes summer. A few lilies and black eyed Susans, a variety of potted annuals, but overall the color display is nothing like springtime. I've wanted to have a little more color without too much effort. Now that I'm market manager, I can tap into the expertise of our market experts: Nancy Seaman of Farris-Seaman Plants, Rick Naylor of French Prairie Perennials, John O'Sullivan of Garden Color and Peter Wilson of Vanveen Bulbs.

Their advice in a nutshell: if you want color all season long, keep planting in August and September. Lilies, hydrangeas and Rose of Sharon are just a few of the many perennials and shrubs that can be provide summer color. Another insight I learned: planting perennials this month and next will give the plants that much more time to become established in your yard. Why rush around madly in April when the ground finally dries out when you can plant now?

Since seeking advice, I've picked up a Passion Vine (a climbing perennial with great purple flowers) from French Prairie Perennials and a variety of bulbs from Vanveen. I've my eye on a Buddleia (butterfly bush) at Garden Color and several perennial herbs from Farris-Seaman. Now I just need to get these plants in the ground before I start planting fall vegetables.

Note on parking: As we all know, parking in Hillsdale is tight. The businesses and business owners generously share their parking with the market. In return, we've been asked to designate a few parking spots for several businesses. Please do not park in a spot designated for a business. If it is a very busy day, you can park in the Wilson/Rieke Parking lot behind the Hillsdale Shopping Center. If you need help getting things to your car, come to the information booth and a volunteer will assist you. Thank you for your cooperation.


Sue's Recipe o' the Week
Did you delete that last issue of the Grapevine before you printed out Sue's recipe? No problem. All past newsletters are available online at http://hfm.blogspot.com/. In the meantime, here's another one of Sue's mouth-watering concoctions

Green Bean Salad with Pine Nuts and Feta
1 lb. green beans
1/3 cup pine nuts
7 ozs. feta cheese (Fraga Farm)
4 ozs. pitted kalamata olives
5 T. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
sea salt to taste

1. Plunge beans into pan of lightly salted boiling water, cook for 2 minutes, drain and cool in cold water. Place in salad bowl.
2. Cook pine nuts in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until golden all over.
3. Add pine nuts to the beans along with the feta, and olives. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and mix well.

Serves 6.

What's Fresh for August 8
Once again, it's time to get your pencil, paper and cookbooks handy and start planning those menus for the week ahead. Here's what you can expect to find, fresh, at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market on Sunday.

Aklavik Mushrooms, Portland (St. John's):
Herbs & Spices: Basil.
Mushrooms (Cultivated): Maitake, Shiitake.
Other: Cee Gwa (Asian Veggie), Nopales (Cactus, similar to Prickly Pear)
Coming Soon: Porcini Mushrooms.

Ayers Creek Farm, Gaston:
Beans & Peas: Pole beans.
Berries/Fruit: Blackberries (Chester, Triple Crown), Charentais, Galia, Ha'ogen & Petit Gris Melons.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Garlic, New Potatoes (Dug day before market), Shallots.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Dill, Tarragon.
Leafy Greens: Beet greens, Chard, Lettuce.
Other: Immature Grains (grüenkern and firkeh), Middle Eastern Cukes, Zucchini.

Baird Family Orchards, Dayton:
Berries/Fruit: Nectarines, Peaches.

Bear Creek Floral, Tillamook:
Other: Artichokes.

Deep Roots Farm, Albany:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Purple Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries/Fruit: Cantaloupe, Watermelon (Yellow & Red Seedless).
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Elephant Garlic, Garlic, Potatoes, Shallots, Turnips, Sweet Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Fennel.
Leafy Greens: Chard, Collards, Dandelion, Escarole, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach.
Other: Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Earthshine Gardens, Sherwood:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Potatoes (Red, White, Yellow).
Herbs & Spices: Basil.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage, Lettuce, Mustard Greens.
Other: Broccoli, Cherry Tomatoes, Cukes, Lemon Cukes, Salad Mix, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Flamingo Ridge Farm, Gaston:
Other: Cucumbers, Eggplants, Peppers, Summer Squash, Tomatoes.

Gee Creek Farm, Ridgefield, WA:
Beans & Peas: Fillet Beans, Green Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries/Fruit: Apples.
Bulb/ Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Cilantro, Fennel, Italian Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage (Green & Red), Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Mesclun.
Other: Baby Squash, Broccoli, Middle Eastern Cukes, Peppers.
Coming Soon: Radishes, Tomatoes.

Happy Harvest Farm, Mt. Angel:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Indy Gold Beans, Purple Beans, Wax Beans.
Berries/Fruit: Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Peaches, Watermelon (Yellow).
Other: Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Liepold Farm, Boring:
Berries/Fruit: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries.

Lone Elder Farm, Canby:
Beans & Peas: Green Beans, Roma Beans, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas.
Berries/ Fruit: Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Peaches.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Beets, Carrots, Green Onions, Kohlrabi, Potatoes (Red, Yukon Gold), Radishes, Red Onions, Sweet Onions.
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Parsley.
Leafy Greens: Cabbage, Chard, Lettuce (7 varieties), Spinach.
Other: Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Peppers, Rhubarb, Summer Squash, Zucchini.

Packer Orchard, Hood River:
Berries/Fruit: Cherries, Peaches.

Rick Steffen Farm, Silverton:
Berries/Fruit: Apples, Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Cherries, Peaches, Raspberries, Shiro Plums.
Bulb/Root Veggies: Sweet Onions.
Other: Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Cukes, Okra, Tomatoes, Zucchini.

Salmon Creek Farm:
Other: Cukes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes (Hydroponic)

Stephens Farm (Dayton):
Berries/ Fruit: Apples (Williams Pride, Gravenstein), Yellow Plums
Other: Summer Squash.

Unger Farms, Cornelius:
Berries/Fruit: Blueberries, Strawberries (Selva).

Upcoming Market Guests & Events

Musical Guests
August 8: BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Greg Clarke (Bluegrass)
August 15: Artistic License (formerly Standard Deviates)

Guest Organizations
August 8: SWNI/Community Cycling Center Back to School Bike Drive
August 15: Hillsdale Branch Library

Guest Businesses
August 8: Healing Touch Acupuncture August 15: Devine Chiropractic

Special Events
August 15: Taste the Harvest Festival- Sample the variety of fruits and vegetables grown by the farmers at the Market. The library will have a display of books on food and agriculture as well!

Do you know someone who might be interested in reading the HFM Grapevine?

If so, forward this on to them and invite them to get on our mailing list!