Each year, Willamette Valley farmers and vintners produce more than 170 crops, plants, and livestock—all of which show up in wine glasses, bouquets, award-winning restaurants, and more.
Find out when some of the Willamette Valley's best-loved crops are in season—and where you can enjoy the bounty of the region all year long.
Before heading out, you'll want to keep a few things in mind for the best possible experience:
Most farms and markets are open April-October, but growing seasons aren't exact. If visiting early or late in a crop's growing season, check with your farm's official website or social media channels to see whether they're open—and what's available.
Pets are allowed on some farms, but are generally discouraged when farm animals are present. Check with your preferred destinations to see whether dogs are allowed before setting out.
Keep in mind that you are visiting working farms—so please refrain from walking into buildings and onto crops, and be sure to obey posted signs at all times.
The Willamette Valley's first blooms appear in March and April. Our crops include peonies (in-season March-July), tulips (April-May), colorful irises (April-July), and all manner of herbs (April-Sept.).
You'll find these blooms at nurseries and flower farms in the Willamette Valley—including:
The busy season at Willamette Valley farms generally stretches between May and September, when the highest number of items are produced. Here are just a few of the many, many crops available at Willamette Valley farms in summer:
Right around Labor Day, harvesters get to work plucking hops from bines that can reach 20 feet or taller—all of which feeds our acclaimed craft beer scene.
Some hops are tossed into the mix right away to create fresh-hop beers (which put the hop's flavor profile front and center and are usually available Sept.-early November), while others are pelletized and processed for use in beers over the coming months.
Most of the season's crops have been harvested by fall, but you'll still find roadside stands, farms, and markets selling whatever's fresh. On weekends, families flock to pumpkin patches and harvest festivals at farms throughout the region. Here's a look at what you'll find in fall throughout the Willamette Valley:
Apples might start growing as early as June—but they have their moment every autumn.
Bauman's Farm & Garden, for instance, sits along the Marion Farm Loop and hosts an annual harvest festival where apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples, slushie drinks, and cider (both hard and non-alcoholic) are served in abundance.
By winter, most farmers have harvested their last crops, closed their roadside stands, and started looking to spring. That said, the quiet season rewards visitors with winter farmers markets, memorable farm-to-table experiences, and a variety of fresh crops. Here's a look at what's growing and available in winter.
Unsurprisingly, Christmas tree farms do their biggest business between mid-November and mid-December, with families picking the perfect tree all over the Willamette Valley. Frog Pond Farm (part of the Farmlandia Farm Loop) sells live trees, wreaths, and garlands every holiday season.
