On the Heights or downtown, local food growers and crafts people connect in two ongoing venues with the same spirit of community.
    Hood River Saturday Market starts its 19th season May 2 at Fifth and Columbia streets, downtown.

Gorge Grown Food Network will renew its Thursday markets on June 11, 4-7 p.m. at Hood River Middle School.

Anyone interested in buying locally grown or made produce and other food from the Gorge will have ample opportunity to do so throughout the spring and summer, and into the fall. (Saturday Market runs through Sept. 26; Gorge Grown until Oct. 11.)

Between fresh berries, vegetables, greens, fruits, herbs, mushrooms, meat, fish, bread, cut flowers, native and ornamental plants, prepared foods and more, there is plenty to choose from at both events.

However, even at local grocery stores, local food can be found with some careful shopping. The larger markets realized years ago that Gorge residents want Gorge-grown things to eat.

The seasonal market experience puts you in touch with the grower or maker, but is not all that different from buying at the grocery store: along with other people, you browse among racks or tables of food, and then either bag it up yourself or the vendor weighs or measures what you need and you’re on your way.

Gorge Grown market, part of the year-round Gorge Grown Food Network, started in 2006 as part of Columbia Gorge Earth Center as a way to connect farmers to consumers, consumers to farmers, farmers to other farmers and to encourage more local food production. In December 2008 the network gained independent 501(c)(3) status.

Saturday Market began in 1990 selling fresh produce from local growers, and was called Hood River Farmers Market. Changing the name to the Hood River Saturday Market in 1999, the market now offers handmade crafts, arts and food.

The new logo for the Market (see page A1) features the famous Hood River span-lift bridge. Not only does the new artwork reflect the updated feel of the market, but it is a metaphor for “bridging the communities of the Gorge,” according to Hood River Saturday Market board member Lore Sampson. “We want to include all Mid-Columbia Gorge communities and invite them to take part in the wonderful things we have to offer.”

That’s a pretty direct summation of what the Saturday and Gorge Grown markets are all about.

Buying from local growers reduces the impact on the environment and introduces the consumer to new and interesting varieties of fruits and vegetables.

The more we can appreciate what’s on our plates, the more healthful our nutrition becomes. Also, it’s just nice knowing who grew that spinach or where those strawberries were grown.