Italian Gardeners and Ranchers Association Building

built in 1922

   The Italian Gardeners and Ranchers Association was formed at the turn of the 20th century as a cooperative marketing effort by Italian produce peddlers and truck farmers. Italian immigration to Portland reached an all-time high in the years between 1890 and 1910. Many of the newly arrived immigrants settled on the east bank of the Willamette River south of Hawthorne Boulevard. This area was still largely unsettled and provided inexpensive and abundant land on which many of the Italians established small truck farms, maintaining a way of life they had been accustomed to in their native country. By 1900, there were between 150 and 200 produce peddlers in Portland, a considerable number of whom were Italian. 

With the formation of the Italian Gardeners and Ranchers Association, and the subsequent establishment of a large marketplace shortly thereafter, the farmers and peddlers had a central market location which would help to standardize prices and the quality of the produce. The original market was located on the west bank of the Willamette River at the foot of Market Street. The market fostered a sense of community among newly-arrived immigrants.

 The success of this market and the poor physical condition of the initial building led to the purchase of a tract of land on the east side of the river, and the construction of a two-story wood building which covered the entire block between Madison and Main and 3rd and Union. The first major produce wholesaler to locate in the central east side area, the Italian Gardeners and Ranchers Association was followed by a number of other produce and grocery wholesalers. The Association was instrumental in shaping the character of the east side’s “produce row,” a colorful and vital neighborhood. While catering primarily to produce vendors, the Gardeners and Ranchers building also served as a focal point for community activities. In addition to the produce market, the building included a dairy product section, a specialty Italian import grocery, a pool hall, and meeting rooms.

   In 1921, the wood building was destroyed by fire.  Within a year, a new building was built on the same site. The entire building was constructed of reinforced poured-in-place concrete. The new building was remarkably similar to the old in layout.  Small  storefronts faced onto Union Avenue.  Also present were a pool hall, several meeting halls, and two Italian restaurants, the Montecatinni and the Ernest Ceccanti. 

   Although the Italian Gardeners and Ranchers Association moved in 1929, they maintained their ownership of the property until 1987, when it was sold to the current owners. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.