Fresh Friday

If you haven't figured it out by now, my blogs now have a daily theme. I wanted to give a bit more structure to my blog, so I decided to give this daily theme a try. At least through the month of September. Today ... it's all about Fresh Friday.

Fresh Friday may take on a few different shapes before the end of the month, but I'm going to try to focus on something new, something fresh, every other Friday for the rest of the month. I thought it might be fun today to talk about some of the local farmers markets and farms that are in my area. Because where better to get something fresh?

Now. There are a TON of farms in my area. The availability of fresh fruits and vegetables is seemingly endless. I'm going to feature 2 of these places, because these are the ones I've actually visited. Because there are so many, I haven't had a chance to get to all of them. 

Lone Pine Farms is a great little place. It's very close to where I live, so I don't have to drive very far. Which is nice. They have a play area for kids, a pumpkin patch and haunted corn maze in October, and you can even pan for gold and jewels. They've got an area for feeding the goats. And then there's the amazing little shop. The vegetables and fruit are some of the freshest I've ever had, not to mention super delicious. They've got a selection of local ice creams, and honey, and jellies and jams. The list is endless. The people that work there, are so pleasant and will answer any questions you might have. I love it there. I actually need to make a trip. (Note to self, make a trip to Lone Pine soon).

Next is Detering Orchards. While they're on a much smaller scale than the above mentioned location, they're fresh fruit and veggies can't be overlooked. I've only been here once, because they're a bit farther away, and I can't always justify the trip. With that being said, they're definitely worth checking out if you're local. I had some cherries from here, and they were HANDS DOWN the BEST cherries I'd ever tasted. They were sweet, without being too sweet. They were soft and tender, and juicy, and delicious. They've also got a large selection of jellies and jams, and honeys (all local of course) and they even have a mascot in the form of the family dog. It was really hot when I was there, and the poor old thing was too tired to entertain, but she did let my little pet her and love on her while she relaxed in the little shade there was. Detering also has a super friendly staff. Helpful, and just plain welcoming. It might be a diamond in the rough, but once you find the shine it's beautiful. 

Another gem is the Eugene Saturday Market. Local Artisans, Live Music, Fresh Produce, what else could you ask for? The market runs every Saturday (rain or shine) from the first Saturday in April through mid-November, from 10:00am - 5:00pm. It's a rich tradition, and very Eugene (if you don't live here, you wouldn't understand that, but if you do, enough said). Check out their FAQ page to get all the info! If you're local and you haven't checked them out, WHY!? It's an amazing place, and the atmosphere is just as fun. If you're not local, you should be. (just kidding, but really, you should be).

I want to know, if you're local, if I missed your favorite spot. If I did, leave me a comment. It might get featured on the next Fresh Friday.

Until Next Time ..