Locavores, there's no need to panic about the end of the market season. Portland Farmers Market just announced that the organization’s flagship Saturday market, located on the south Park Blocks on the gorgeously green PSU campus, will now remain open year-round.

The market's previous season stretched from mid-March through mid-December, supplemented by a biweekly winter market at Shemanski Park in 2012. For the 2014/2015 winter season, the market will stay at its PSU home every Saturday from January 3, 2015 to February 28, 2015, from 9 am to 2 pm. The market's regular season will return in March.

Though smaller—the Winter Market's footprint is planned for just one block, from Montgomery to Harrison—the winter months will host a great selection of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and small food businesses. Surprised that the farmers can stock a full market in the winter? Don't be. Thanks to recent innovations, from planting winter-hardy varietals and using row covers, cold frames, and hoop houses to protect crops from the elements, our local bounty is nearly weather-proof. 

Market shoppers can expect to find purple and green kale, broccoli and cauliflower, pyramids of carrots, parsnips and beets, and baskets of apples, pears, winter squash, potatoes and onions. Other vendors will sell meats, fish, eggs, artisan breads, cheeses and sweets. We can't wait!