Every Saturday, Portland State University’s (PSU) campus bustles with hundreds of Portlanders for one of the biggest farmer’s markets on the West Coast. Dozens of vendors selling produce, food, and drinks along with the classic Portland atmosphere is what makes this farmer’s market a go-to on the weekend.  

The market takes up the main quad of the PSU campus and was busy this past sunny Saturday afternoon. “This is the biggest market in the region,” said Justin Simms, owner of Glasrai Farms. “It’s even bigger than markets in Washington.” 

Simms is one of the many produce farmers who selsl their products at the market, and he has been coming to the farmer’s market for 11 years. He and his farm specialize in many types of produce, but his specialty is his dry-farmed tomatoes that use no irrigation while growing. “It makes the tomatoes smaller, but more concentrated in flavor,” said Simms. “So they’re even better than heirloom tomatoes.” 

The farmer’s market also poses a great opportunity for vendors to generate more sales. “Especially at the beginning, it [the market] was the main revenue,” said Wes Angelozzi, an employee for Portland Ashwagandha Farm. 

Simms also emphasized the importance of the market for sales. “Oh, it’s 60 to 70% of my business,” said Simms. Not only does the market offer a place for many local businesses to promote their products, but it also helps kickstart companies and farms looking for a bigger market and revenue stream. 

When visiting the farmer’s market, you can feel the culture of Portland flow through the PSU campus. It’s a city coming together to share their work, and it creates an amazing sense of community. “The market helps us connect with the other vendors and do trades,” said Angelozzi. “You know the community a lot, especially with what we do, and that we’re here to help people.” 

The PSU Farmer’s Market offers plenty of amazing food options but it is also a great place to see more of Portlands culture in the flesh. Every Saturday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM on the PSU  campus is a great opportunity to grab a bite of locally grown produce, enjoy live music, and soak in the community atmosphere by meeting new people.