Portland Reigns!

Photo by Susan Seubert

"This Oregon city gets almost everything right: It's friendly, sustainable, accessible, maybe even a model for America's future."

National Geographic Traveler sites Portland as the innovative, forward-thinking city to beat, and we agree! Here is a link to their article.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

The fall season has officially begun, the leaves are just beginning to turn color. There is a crisp feeling in the air, the tummy begins to crave seasonal treats - the question begs to be asked, "how do you like them apples?"

The Columbia River Gorge's Hood River Valley in Oregon, is a bounty of scenic fruit orchards and farmlands to enjoy. Out of them are produced heirloom and classic apples and pears. Apple varieites such as Spitzenburg, Rome Beauty, Newtown Pippin, Winter Banana, and Ortley can trace their heritage back 100 years or more.

Photo by Shoothead on Flickr

Many of these fantastic apples must be tasted at the farm, for they are not produced in large enough quantities to ship elsewhere. Try a U-Pick stand such as Alice's Orchard in Hood River, which is apart of the "Fruit-Loop" mapped out area of fruit stands throughout Hood River.

Or, the Draper Girl's Country Farm, which also produces non-pasteurized Apple Cider, as well as a selection of U-Pick produce. Don't forget many of the local Farmer's Markets offer stands stocked with many of the seasonal, varietal heirloom apples, such as the Portland Farmer's Market locations.