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Read on to learn what's happening on your
local family farms & country attractions
End-of-Summer, Beginning of Apple Season
The last full month of summer is a great time to get eat farm-fresh food and experience a farm visit with your family. It's also the time to watch for the first apples of the year. Blink and you can miss some varieties.

Whether you want to walk through fields of blooming color, pick peaches, sip wine, stargaze, or meet baby animals, there's always something for everyone on the Oregon Farm Loop!
FYI
Extended Lavender Season
Wayward Winds Lavender Farm is extending their 2023 Lavender season to August 13th, due to Spring's late arrival this year. Keep an eye on their website and Facebook so you don't miss out!
Farmstand Fresh
Willamette Valley Melon Company's self-service farm stands are stocked with the freshest August produce: they pick and restock daily. Stay tuned and watch their Facebook page for news of their upcoming Watermelon Festival coming next month!
Old friends opening in August for their 2023 season
  • Beilke Family Farm (Marion) - As of 7/24, they write, "We are getting close! We are just a couple weeks away from starting the 2023 Apple Season. We will kick off the season with our Gravensteins. They are looking wonderful and should be about ready to start by the middle of August. We will update on our website, our email updates, Instagram, and Facebook as soon as they are ready!"
  • MoonRidge Farms (South Clackamas) opened their 2023 blueberry season on July 22nd
  • True North Orchards (Marion) - Look for an announcement about Honeycrisp apples late in August. Keep an eye on their Facebook page.
Say "Hello" to...
U-Pick and Picked Peaches and Nectarines, many varieties ripening constantly throughout our season. Beautiful orchard, very family friendly, trees are kept low so no ladders are needed. Come taste these tree ripened peaches, pick your own right off the tree or enjoy our pre-picked flats that are picked fresh every morning. Please use Facebook or call 503-678-5227 to make sure we are open or to reserve flats.

More info: 503-678-5227, tannerkoenig@yahoo.com, 23513 Boones Ferry Rd, Aurora
TK Orchards is in an area that overlaps our Marion and South Clackamas Farm Loops. Visit them soon, while the peaches and nectarines are here NOW!
We are a family farm— Jim's grandfather started the farm in 1909. We specialize in our mouth-watering, fresh-from-the-field sweet corn. We open our fruit and vegetable stand as soon as the corn ripens in late July or early August. We also grow peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, hot chilis, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupe, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, winter squash, onions, pumpkins and peaches. We offer online ordering on our website: schlechterfarms.com.  

More info: 503-792-3328 info@schlechterfarms.com 10143 86th Ave NE, Salem
Schlecter Farms is located along our Marion Farm Loop.
It's time for the Peaches!
You can find sweet Oregon peaches on the Oregon Farm Loops! Here are some of the places on the Oregon Farm Loops that offer Peaches, including U-picks.

As always, we recommend that you call ahead or check websites and/or social media posts to ensure what you want to see, do, or by is available on the day you want to visit.
Sunset Farm Loop (growing)
  • Adelante Farmers Markets - Find peaches and other nutritious produce--and support local farmers!
  • Beaverton Farmers Market - When you shop at a farmers' market, you support the local economy. Expect to find peaches and other seasonal fruits, flowers, and vegetables.
  • Bell's Orchard - The peach harvest begins this week at Bell's Orchard with Red Haven and Early Elberta peaches. The crop is beautiful this year. Bring the family and friends and come pick your own delicious peaches in our beautiful short tree orchard.
  • Helvetia Farm Market & Marion Acres - Find your local peaches and other seasonal delights.
Photo: Bell's Orchard
  • Fiala Farms is now open with produce hand-picked daily. The time between picking and eating makes a delicious difference! They offer peaches and other midsummer treats, such as jams and jellies.
  • Hartnell Farms - Check their stand for beautiful peaches, plums, apricots, berries, and more!
  • Liepold Farms - Pick up peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums at their farmstand! Call ahead (503) 663-5880 for availability.
  • Milwaukie Farmers Market - Open every Sunday, 9:30a-2p. Support local peach farmers and pick up all of your other produce at the same time!
  • Blue Raeven Farmstand is offering Peach, Peach/Raspberry, and Rhubarb/Peach pies. Pre-order for in-store pickup only pie varieties include Peach Cream pie.
  • E.Z. Orchards Farm Market features local peaches and other local summer seasonal fresh foods.
  • French Prairie Gardens' bakery features seasonal fruit pies—which may include peaches! Our pies are prepared using 2 lbs of fruit that was grown here on our farm. 
  • TK Orchards - Candor and STELLAR® Risingstar® peach varieties, as well as nectarines
  • Meyer Peach Orchard - Red Haven and Veteran varieties. During peach harvest, usually the end of July through the middle of August, we are typically open Monday through Thursday 8am to 2pm, Friday & Saturday 8am to 6pm, Sundays noon to 4pm. We do close periodically during harvest for ripening, and we also close anytime the temperature exceeds 90°F. Please check Facebook or call 503-362-7153 for updates before visiting us as our days and hours can change based on crop ripeness and weather.
  • Willamette Valley Pie Co - offers a ready-to-bake Peach Cobbler 2-Pack - "Old Fashion Style" - $79, or get an Old-Fashion Cobbler Variety Pack (1 Peach Cobbler, 1 Marion Cobbler) $79 - free shipping
Photo: French Prairie Gardens
  • TK Orchards - Candor and STELLAR® Risingstar® peach varieties, as well as nectarines (Yes, they are listed twice: they straddle two Farm Loops!)
Photo: TK Orchards
Peach Facts
According to Wikipedia, The peach (Prunus persica), is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties), nectarines." (Peach - Wikipedia)

Clingstone? Freestone? What does it mean?
Clingstone means the peach's flesh clings to the pit and is difficult to remove. Clingstone peaches come in many varieties, most notably yellow and white. Clingstone peaches are typically smaller but very juicy and sweet, making them a perfect choice for canning and jellies.

  • Freestone means the peach's flesh is easily removed from the pit. In many cases, the pit literally falls out of the peach once it’s sliced. Thanks to that characteristic, these peaches are usually the most common type found at local markets and grocery stores as they are best when eaten fresh. Freestone peaches are typically larger than clingstone, wonderful eaten out of hand or used in cooking, baking, canning and freezing.  Freestone peaches are generally harvested mid-season and once they arrive, these freestone peaches will be available throughout the peach season. 

Semi-Cling is a hybrid type peach that is less well known than its more common relatives. Semi-Cling peaches combine the sweetness of a clingstone with the easy-to-eat nature of the freestone. While they're more difficult to find, semi-cling peaches are good both fresh and canned.
(source)
Peach varieties with "star" or "STELLAR" in their name were developed at Fruit Acres Farm on the west coast of Michigan. Learn more.

Want to learn more about many more peach varieties that grow well around the Farm Loops? Check out Selecting Peach and Nectarine Varieties for the Willamette Valley from our friends at Oregon State University Extension.
Photo: Fiala Farms
Recipe you can make with your fresh Oregon Farm Loop Peaches (and Marionberries)
YIELD 8 Servings; TIME Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 45 minutes
Our recipe for Peach and Marionberry Crisp will delight your taste-buds with the extra zing of ground cardamom and ginger. Make this dessert mid-summer using fresh-picked marionberries (blackberries) or year-long using frozen fruit.
INGREDIENTS
FOR THE TOPPING
¾ Cup flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ Cup butter, softened
¾ Cup brown sugar
½ Cup chopped nuts
1 ½ Cups rolled oats
FOR THE FRUIT
6 ripe peaches, sliced into 8-10 pieces over mixing bowl (if frozen, thaw first)
4 Cups (2 pints) marionberries (fresh or frozen)
¼ Cup maple syrup
3 Tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground ginger
Oregon Peach & Marionberry Crisp - Oregon-Berries.com
PREPARATION
Step 1: Put peaches and berries into mixing bowl.

Step 2: In smaller bowl, mix sugar, flour and spices together well. Sprinkle over fruit and toss gently to combine.

Step 3: Transfer to 2 qt. baking dish. You can also make individual crisps using 8 oz. baking cups. Place dish or dishes on a sheet pan to catch the drips as it bakes.

Step 4: Set oven to 350°. While the oven is heating, make the topping.

Step 5: In a medium sized bowl, whisk the flour, salt and baking powder together.

Step 6: Add the chopped nuts and sugar. Stir to combine.

Step 7: Cut in butter by hand and then add the oats.

Step 8: Crumble the topping over the fruit evenly.

Step 9: Bake for 45 minutes or until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Expert Tip – even better with: ⅓ cup candied ginger pieces, chopped
‌
U-pick Peaches, Berries, and more!
U-pick opportunities are plentiful along the Farm Loops. Check our U-pick calendar for opportunities to pick your own along the Farm Loops! Follow the instructions to display just the U-pick info. And please check out Tom's Berry Patch's U-Pick page for excellent tips and points of U-Pick etiquette. Please note: Tom's Berry Patch does not require reservations, but others may. Check ahead to be sure.

Click anywhere on the picture of the calendar below to open the Oregon Farm Loop Events Page.
Check for u-pick opportunities
There's something for just about everyone happening on the Oregon Farm Loops. Check the Oregon Farm Loop Events page and follow the instructions to display one or more Farm Loops at a time! Or, click a Farm Loop logo to see the Events calendar for just that site.

This month includes:

SEE ALL EVENTS Click a logo below to see that Farm Loop's event calendar...or click the Oregon Farm Loop logo to see a blend of Farm Loop events AND the Sunset and U-Pick events we know of.
Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch (South Clackamas) posted this photo on July 22. Welcome, little cria! Maybe we'll learn your name soon!
Photo: Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch
 About Us      
 Oregon Farm Loop
NEW! P.O. Box 9444 Brooks, Oregon 97305
This e-newsletter made possible by the generous support of many people & entities:

  • Oregon Agritourism Partnership, an Oregon nonprofit that benefits agritourism farms
  • Oregon State University Extension Service
  • Oregon's Mt Hood Territory
  • Travel Salem
  • Cities/Chambers of Canby, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Molalla, West Linn, Oregon City and Wilsonville
  • Clackamas and Marion Counties, Marion County Extension 4-H Service District