Helvetia Farm Market — Restaurant in Hillsboro

I love this little store & the employees are always the sweetest but I had the worst experience I’ve ever in a store yesterday evening due to this woman who was in there that wasn’t wearing a mask during a pandemic when it’s a state wide mandate. She was making my friend & I extremely uncomfortable with how she kept glaring at us then proceeded to follow us around the store constantly coming within at least 3 feet of us.

I wouldn’t have been so bothered if her husband who was either apart of the business or knows the owners of the store wouldn’t stop staring at me acting like I was being suspicious or something. I didn’t think anything of it until my friend who is 34 years old had to point out how uncomfortable she was becoming being in the store & how she’s never had an experience like that in all of her life. Whatever issue that woman had with us she made it VERY clear we aren’t welcome there. As we were checking out she also felt the need to keep turning to us & smirking, as if that wasn’t enough she topped things off by walking up to my friends truck getting way to close to us to get to her car (we were loading in our groceries on the passenger side when the woman was parked next to my friends drivers side) when it would have been 10x easier for her to walk in front of my friend truck instead of going out of her way. My friend got so fed up that she stopped putting our food away just to stare at her right back then all the lady did was give a nasty little laugh.

Whoever this woman & her husband are in relation to this little farm are such a poor representation of human decency. Our first thoughts were never to come back to this farm again even though my friends loved coming here for years but that’s exactly what I’m sure that woman wants. The fact that my friend had to tell me it seemed racially driven was so saddening & disgusting (me being the person of color) No matter what her issue was you never make another human being feel uncomfortable like that, especially when just trying to buy food.

What I’m trying to get across is I hope the owners take this experience into consideration with how their customers feel about the people that are representing their store. I’m still going to come to this farm frequently bc I refuse to let that woman get the satisfaction of scaring me off. If this ever happens again I will be speaking...

OMG I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH!

Do not be deterred by Helvetia Markets a-bit-out-of-the-way-ness. If I lived closer, I would absolutely do the vast majority of my weekly grocery shopping here. I am still tempted to do it, though an hour and a half away is maybe pushing it. You could really get anything you needed here, though with the caveat that you’ll pay more than a traditional grocery store. But if it makes financial sense for you, Helvetia Farm Market is so worth supporting as they provide incredibly high quality, thoughtfully procured and well-made goods, a vast variety of which are local.

Standouts for me included local Willamette Valley and TMK Creamery cheeses, duck and quail eggs, Honey Mama chocolate, Kachka Lavka vareniki, pasture raised beef and pork, a variety of Sungold Farms Cornmeal and many other grains. There are so many condiments and preserves, wines, cider, and other beverages. They had a great variety of sweets including many local chocolates. Even local handmade taffy! The produce section was quite large for a smaller store, and I adored the bunches of herbs wrapped with an edible flower. Like, what a tiny little touch that makes it feel so special! They serve coffee and tea, and had a sweet little bakery case (and, if I recall correctly, I think some bistro tables for enjoying your treats outside). Their front patio was covered in so many lovingly cared for annuals and perennials, plus they had a cute houseplant display and seeds inside. They also had a variety of home goods that would make great gifts.

The employees were friendly, and I seriously just felt charmed the entire time (probably at least an hour – I didn’t want to leave!)...

Great little market with a complete and nicely curated selection of local products such as milk, meat, cheese, vegetables, pie, etc. Coffee, beer on tap and wine pours to enjoy from the covered tables, patio, and grassy field overlooking the surrounding chicken pasture and hills. Plenty of sweet and savory snacks to enjoy with your beverage-- something for both parents and the kids to enjoy.

They pour beverages but do not serve food per se. Buy food from the market and enjoy on-site. I highly suggest bringing your own picnic basket with plates, utensils, knife, napkins, and cutting board, and then putting together your own charcuterie board with tasty treats and condiments purchased on-site. Then be sure to pick up some staples like fresh chicken, short ribs, veggies for home (something I intended but forget to do).

I visited on a gorgeous fall evening and very much enjoyed watching the sunset over the surrounding countryside while chatting and snacking with friends. Seating and tables are adequate, but I wouldn't suggest this for a group of more than 6 people and recommend bringing camping chairs or a picnic blanket just in case, especially when the weather is nice. No indoor seating so bring a warm coat just in case. Parking was adequate and easy. Restroom is available. Dogs allowed on leash. Watch out for the free-roaming chickens!

This is on my list of places to go when I...