Plate and Pitchfork- Portland, OR by Diane

August 10, 2007

At the end of our day in Portland, we split up, with some of us going to the Farmer John movie and others heading out to Plate and Pitchfork. Plate and Pitchfork is an Oregon event that happens on five farms around the state. The farms host dinners for two to three nights so residents in the area can come out and enjoy farm fresh food literally on the farm. They set up tables, chairs and linens in the fields so attendees can dine in style and literally in their food.

We could only go for the opening farm tour and very beginning of the evening (the event is so popular it always sells out). This particular event was held on Sauvie Island at the Sauvie Island Organics farm. It was founded in 1993 and sells its food through a CSA and to local chefs.

Our tour guide Shari mentioned on our tour that the demand for local food has risen dramatically. According to her, the reason is because local food tastes better and people like having a connection with their farmer.

The best part of the evening was when they let us loose in their cornfields to pick an ear of corn. We shucked it right there in the field and ate it raw. I have to tell you, it was the best corn I’ve ever had – it popped and burst with the sweetest flavor. It would actually have been wrong to either cook or butter this corn, it was so good.

So my lasting memory of Portland will be standing in a cornfield savoring the taste of the sweetest corn that literally popped with both flavor and taste!

Want to read more about our events today?

Bob's Red Mill
The Real Dirt on Farmer John and a Pie and a Pint
Zenger Farms
Growing Gardens

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