Crawford's Produce: It's the berries at our Forest Grove Farmers Market

Deep purple marionberries, brilliant red strawberries, golden raspberries, and cobalt blueberries create a rainbow effect at the Crawford’s Produce booth at our Forest Grove Farmers Market.

Lene (left), and her mother Araceli sell berries and vegetables at the Crawford's Produce booth each Wednesday at our Forest Grove Farmers Market.

Mother and daughter Araceli Suano and Lene Zurita brighten the rainbow with their smiles as they proudly sell an array of fresh fruits, vegetables and berries each week.

Crawford’s Produce has been a vendor at our market since its debut in the Safeway parking lot in 2005.

Araceli’s husband, Roberto Zurita, has been working for James Crawford at his Cornelius farm for over 27 years.

“It’s our second home,” Araceli said.

“Our farm is like a family,” said daughter Lene, who accompanied her mom in the fields as an infant. “We all grew up there.”

Crawford’s Produce offers everything from green beans, corn, squash, and pumpkins to cherries, strawberries, and peppers. The majority of produce offered at the Crawford’s market booth is grown on the farm in Cornelius. To keep up with customer demand for stone fruit, they offer a variety of peaches, nectarines, apricots and cherries from sister farms in the Columbia Gorge.

In Lene’s opinion, however, the berries are the booth’s star offering.

“My favorite products to sell are the golden raspberries, tayberries and gooseberries,” said Lene, “all of the berries that people don’t usually know about.”

Tayberries are a cross between blackberries and red raspberries, while gooseberries are similar to currants and grapes with a globe shape and typically have a red or green color. Market-goers can ask Lene or Araceli for samples to experience the unique spectrum of flavors each berry offers.

Crawford’s Farm also offers U-pick so customers can visit and stock up on their favorite berries.

Those who wish to keep the taste of summer going all year can take advantage of free resources through OSU Extension services. From making jam to great tips for drying and freezing foods, look up tasty and safe recipes on OSU's food preservation page.