Food & Drink: Battle Ground grows its own market

Live music (a mellow, one-man rendition of “Proud Mary,” followed by “The Joker” a song by the Steve Miller Band) filled the air as I went to check out mother, Mary Hunter, and daughter, Marguex Gala, tea-makers at their booth, Tea Hunter.

Gala is a biochemist and mixes teas filled with herbs that have health benefits and a well-rounded flavor. The tea leaves come from century-old tea farms overseas, but nearly 100 percent of the herbs, fruit and flowers in the tea are locally grown.

‘Community feel’

I sampled two teas — Get Smart (a peppermint-packed herbal tea with just a bit of tangy licorice root) and Moroccan Mint (a classic, minty green tea). I asked Gala what drew her to this new farmers market.

“We like the community feel of this market,” she said.

Later, I met up with the market’s organizers, Ann Foster and Holly Hansen, who were at the information booth. They started planning this market in fall 2016. With help from the city of Battle Ground, they found this location.

They said the market is a work in progress. They plan on adding more vendors to provide a larger variety of local produce and locally made artisan goods.

The Farmers’ Market at Battle Ground Village is a low-key, well-curated market packed with treasures — it’s the perfect place to spend a Thursday afternoon or evening. If you want to make a night of it, visit the market and then stroll over to family-friendly Northwood Public House and Brewery for some scratch-made, upscale pub grub and craft beers from their own Little Dipper Brewing Company.

Rachel Pinsky can be emailed at couveeats@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @couveeats.