The InstigatorThe Marion Farm Loop is a self-guided farm tour route leading you to 24 stops in Marion County, but you don’t need to explore the whole county to get a taste of nature’s bounty. There are a number of family farms, u-pick opportunities and vineyard adventures awaiting within Salem. Note: Farms vary in their open season depending on what they grow. Check their website and/or call before you visit to find out what’s in season and their hours of operation. Learn more about the loop at marionfarmloop.com.
Here are a handful of the Salem highlights —
EZ Orchards offers a large variety of produce for every season, plus gourmet foods, cheeses, and artisan goods, as well as seasonal events. 5504 Hazel Green Rd NE. Info: 503-393-1506, ezorchards.com
Minto Island Growers features a farm stand offering fresh certified organic produce, as well as u-pick strawberries and blueberries, and a Food Cart featuring fresh farm-to-table foods (that you can order to-go, as well ). Minto Island is also Oregon’s only farm-scale tea garden producing certified organic, handpicked, small-batch crafted teas through the Minto Island Tea Company. While the farm stand is open 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays; the food cart has more limited hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays and 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays plus 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays. 3394 Brown Island Rd S. Info: 503-931-6840, mintogrowers.com
Sebright Gardens is a specialty plant nursery offering several hundred varieties of hostas including a number distinct to Sebright, as well as hardy ferns, epimediums and more. Four acres of botanical display gardens allow visitors to explore the plant offerings, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes if you go adventuring. 7185 Lakeside Dr NE. Info: 503-463-9615, sebrightgardens.com
Willamette Valley Pie Co. is definitely known for pie — that’s a given with its name — but it also offers u-pick blueberries, plus has a lovely gift shop with frozen fruit, coffee, pastries, smoothies, gift items and more. We highly recommend popping in for Happy Hour to snack on a fresh slice between 9 and 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. 2994 82nd Ave NE. Info: 503-362-8857, wvpie.com
Salem Saturday Market is the largest seasonal market in our city. Running every Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October, it offers a large variety of fresh, local and handmade products from flowers and produce to artisan food and crafts, plus live music 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through September. 856 Marion St. SE. Info: salemcommunitymarkets.com
Pudding River is a vineyard and winery producing small-lot, boutique-styled wines including Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. 9374 Sunnyview Rd NE. Info: 503-365-0391, puddingriver.com
Meyer Peach Orchard offers two varieties of peaches: Red Haven and Veteran. While they are primarily available by u-pick, they do offer pre-picked peaches in bags of approximately 5 pounds when they have time to pick and sort them. Watch for an update about opening dates, prices and hours around July 15. 5495 Center St NE. Info: 503-362-7153, meyerpeachorchard.com
True North Orchards offers a wide variety of fruits including apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes and walnuts, as well as hand-pressed apple cider and chicken eggs. They recommend bringing your binoculars for some great bird watching. 5650 Lardon Rd NE. Info: 503-348-4313, truenorthorchards.com
Tracy Torres
