Gear Up For Portland Farmers' Markets With Locally-Made Totes and Panniers

The seeds have been planted, watered and have grown just in time for Portlanders to enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of our local farmers' labor. Summer is upon us, and what better way to enjoy the new season than a trip to your local farmers' market?

For most Portlanders, shopping at the farmers' market is a weekly excursion. So why not shop in style? These locally-made totes and bike panniers are great for carrying your bountiful harvest home from the market … and they look great, too!

Bike Panniers By Queen Bee Creations

Loops, Puddlejump and Midori Panniers. Photos courtesy of Queen Bee Creations

The material used for Queen Bee Creation’s bike panniers is made from reclaimed banners, but you won’t find any old radio station ads on these bags. Designs range from the PuddleJump to the Midori to (my personal favorite) the Loops. Each pannier is water-resistant and comes with a removable shoulder strap for gathering veggies at the market and J-hooks that mount to the base of your bike for a safe ride home.

Musettes at Clever Cycles

Totes and bike panniers fill the store in this Portland cycle shop, which carries everything a Portland biker could dream of. But the bags that really stand apart from the rest are the locally-made musettes that are perfect for toting small treasures from the market to your home. These military-esque bags are made in Springfield, Oregon (for Archival Clothing) from a waxed cotton canvas material or waxed twill material and are hand stamped with a number on a leather tab by designer Tom Bonamici.

Totes by Anna Joyce Designs

Anna Joyce has been designing appliquéd accessories and apparel for years. Her totes are perfect for carrying your farm-grown treats through the market and are available for purchase at Ink & Peat on North Williams. But if you can wait six weeks, you could be one of the first to own a tote from her new line of bags in collaboration with Sown Design in Portland.

Totes by Appetite Designs

Designer Erin Albin has been sewing since she was a little kid. Now she has taken her love for needle and thread (and printing) to the streets of Portland with her booth at the Saturday Market. Her tote bags have a whimsical and fresh feel and are stylish yet practical for everyday use or simply showing off at the market. Grab yours at the Saturday Market and use it up the street at the farmers' market!

Personalize a Tote at Modern Domestic

Making your own bike bucket can get tricky and could end up making your bike look like a two-wheeled garbage truck; but it works! Have the heart of a Do-It-Yourselfer without the materials or skill-sets? Head to Modern Domestic for a class on how to personalize your tote bag with a customized silk screen design … designed by you! For $60 you get two sessions (June 6 and June 13), your own tote bag and the skills to keep silk screening your own totes so you can have an entire line of original bags for the market!