South Eugene Farmers’ Market

I love summer time and, after all, who doesn’t? If for nothing else, you gotta love it for the fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, pears, cherries (and all the rest). Yes, it’s truly one of the best times to get your healthy snack on. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for delicious produce this summer, there’s a hidden gem to be discovered at the Southtowne Shoppes courtyard in Southeast Eugene. Located on the corner of 28th and Oak streets, the South Eugene Farmers’ Market boasts a cozy assortment of vendors from all over Lane County’s local farmland.

The main attraction is Sweetwater Farm’s produce stand, which acts as a centerpiece for the weekly event. The stand itself has produce ranging from organically grown vegetables to perfectly ripe fruit, and the people are always friendly. The entire market is set back from the main road and remains fairly quiet throughout the day, but this shouldn’t be taken as a sign of inferiority — it’s simply indicative of the fact that the most frequent customers come from the neighborhood surrounding the Southtowne Shoppes complex.



The location has other benefits, too: It’s slap-bang in the center of just about everything worth visiting in the area — Barry’s Espresso and Bakery, Long’s Meat Market, Mulligan’s Pub (okay, so that one’s a matter of opinion, especially before noon) and Sushi Domo are all a stone’s throw away from the market. And if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s always the produce stands to keep you occupied for as long as you please. Oh, and free samples — don’t miss the free samples.

It’s not often that a well-kept-by-accident secret such as this gets unearthed, so get out there and scope it while you can. The market starts early, and winds down a bit by the early afternoon, so it’s probably for the best if you’re an early riser on this one. After all, the best stock is to be had at the beginning of the day.

The South Eugene Farmers’ Market starts Sunday, June 12, and runs through September. Hours are 9 am-2 pm. More information at goodfoodeasy.com

EW Summer Guide 6/2