Portland Will Host Third Annual Quince Fest
The event arrives in Portland on Oct. 18 to highlight the underappreciated fruit.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Bauman's on Oak will host the third annual Quince Fest on Oct. 18, 2026. The festival aims to promote the underutilized fruit through vendor exhibitions and educational programming.
Why it matters
Organizers seek to raise awareness for an underappreciated crop that currently faces limited commercial production in the United States. The event provides a platform to discuss cultivation and processing for a fruit that relies heavily on international imports.
The festival expects 250 attendees this year, marking growth from the 230 guests who visited last year and the 180 who attended the inaugural event. Admission to the festival is priced at $22.
The players
Bauman's on Oak
This local establishment serves as the host venue for the third annual Quince Fest in Portland.
USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository
Based in Corvallis, this facility maintains 115 unique quince accessions and oversees approximately 200 trees.
The details
The festival features 20 vendors and includes a panel discussion focused on quince cultivation and production techniques. Participants will also demonstrate how to process the fruit using an alembic copper distilling device.
Timeline
Quince Fest takes place on Oct. 18, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Global quince production figures highlight Turkey and China's 43% share as of 2021.
The United States imported 1,906 tons of quince products in 2022.
Industry Dynamics
The festival highlights the ongoing efforts of the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, which maintains over 100 unique quince accessions. This aligns with broader efforts to preserve rare crop diversity in a market dominated by large-scale global producers.
Residents can attend the event for a $22 admission fee, with organizers anticipating a sell-out crowd this year. The event provides direct access to quince vendors and educational demonstrations for those interested in niche fruit cultivation.
The takeaway
The event serves as an opportunity for local enthusiasts to engage with specialized produce that remains a rarity in the American agricultural landscape. Attendees can learn about the long-term process of establishing commercial crops, which is estimated to take a decade.
Further reading
Discover more local culinary events on our Food and Drink page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Capital Press.
Live Poll
Would you try growing or cooking with niche fruits like quince in your own kitchen?
