The heat at the Portland farmers market last July changed how I shop

I was getting veggies at the PSU market and it was 103 degrees, way hotter than normal. I saw a local farmer's entire batch of lettuce wilt in the sun before he could pack it up. Now I only go to markets before 9 AM or in the evening to avoid that waste. Has anyone else changed their routine because of extreme weather?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul_fisher191mo ago

Yeah, read an article about how some farms are starting to use shade cloths at market stalls... seems like a smart move. That heat is no joke for the produce.

patel.logan1mo ago

Remember that study from a few years back about sunburn on apples? They found the shade cloths cut sun damage by almost half. It's not just about keeping things cool, it actually changes how the fruit ripens. Slower sugar buildup, firmer texture. Makes you wonder why more places don't do it, since the cloth itself is pretty cheap.

alicec861mo ago

Guess it's just easier to keep doing things the old way...