By Julie Davis, August 20, 2020
By Julie Davis, August 20, 2020
Portland neighborhoods are treasure troves of personality. We love them for the unique houses, the tried-and-true local businesses, and the community events that bind them together. While there’s no question that this Summer has been… let’s call it: “unique”. I have been really inspired by the way my client’s neighborhoods are adapting and rising to meet the challenge.
Take farmer’s markets for example. They are a summer staple! What could be better than locally grown food, live music, artisan goods, and dog-spotting?
I was up in Montavilla on a Sunday recently and was so pleased to see that the Montavilla Farmers Market was up and running. Better yet, there were tons of good social distancing procedures in place! The stalls are spaced 10 feet apart, masks are required, and there are hand-washing stations throughout the market. Plus, 10-10:30AM is a reserved shopping block for high-risk and immunocompromised shoppers.
The Montavilla Market has been around since 2007. It runs for 10 months out of the year and supports up to 66 vendors. Not only that, but their SNAP match program has donated over $71,000 to food insecure neighborhoods. Markets like this bring fresh food and vibrancy to communities – essential.
Right now it is a little different than the bustling, crowded, music-filled markets that we are all used to. Still, the community commitment to keep their market alive and support each other is beyond inspiring. A great reminder of what makes Portland neighborhoods so special.