Hillsdale Farmers' Market

Portland Public Schools has offered the Rieke Elementary end of the current parking lot as a location for Hillsdale Farmers' Market during the Ida B. Wells modernization project, a detail that says a lot about how embedded this market is in its neighborhood life. The market runs year-round at 1405 SW Vermont Street and hosts 50-plus local farmers and food artisans from Oregon and Southwest Washington. Its lineup spans seasonal vegetables and fruit, meats, cheeses, honey, baked goods, specialty and ready-to-eat foods, native plants and herbs, and fresh and dried cut flowers. In Hillsdale, this is a full-market shop rather than a small seasonal add-on.

Why it matters locally

The market’s working relationship with Portland Public Schools is one of the clearest local stakes here: PPS offered space at Rieke Elementary so the market could continue during the Ida B. Wells modernization project. Support for the market also shows up across Portland and Oregon civic and food-system groups, including the Oregon Farmers Markets Association, Farmers Market Fund, and Neighborhood House. Elected officials connected to Southwest Portland have also backed it, with letters of support from State Representative Dacia Grayber, State Senator Kate Lieber, and District 4 councilors Eric Zimmerman and Mitch Green. That network of support matches the market’s year-round role and its emphasis on food access programs and seasonal farm shopping.

What you'll find there

The product mix here is broad enough for both staple shopping and specialty stops, with farms, pantry goods, prepared foods, and plant sellers represented in the market’s own description. Rather than leaning on one signature category, Hillsdale presents a full spread of Oregon and Southwest Washington food producers.

• -Browse seasonal vegetables and fruits from local farmers.
• -Pick up meats and cheeses from market food artisans.
• -Find honey alongside baked goods for pantry restocking.
• -Look for specialty foods and ready-to-eat items for same-day meals.
• -Shop native plants and herbs in addition to edible goods.
• -Add fresh and dried cut flowers to the market haul.

An upcoming example of the site’s broader neighborhood role is the IBW Public Design Workshop, scheduled from 6–8pm in the IBW Cafeteria as part of the modernization project.

Know before you go

No dogs are allowed, which is the detail most likely to change how some shoppers plan the trip. Parking is available at Ida B Wells High School and the Hillsdale Orthodontics lot on Capitol Highway. ADA parking is available behind The Portland Ballet building and at the Rieke Elementary parking lot, with the market using 1405 SW Vermont Street as the GPS point. If you arrive by bike, parking is at the market’s north entrance off Capitol Highway. The market is also described as easily accessible via TriMet, with multiple bus lines stopping nearby, and it sits a short walk from both the Hillsdale Library and the Hillsdale business district.

Payments & SNAP

SNAP/EBT is accepted at Hillsdale Farmers' Market, and the market also highlights Produce Match and Double Up Food Bucks as part of its food access programming. The market newsletter specifically points shoppers to updates on SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and related food access programs, reinforcing that this is an active part of how the market operates.