September, 2022
Toppenish, WA.
The town of Toppenish, WA, is just a few miles south of the town of Yakima, WA. In between the two towns are huge orchard fields, and fields of other crops, and homes, and huge fields of hops, and a river or two, and some small hills. I liked both towns a lot.
But Toppenish is smaller (about 10% the population of Yakima), and it seems more comfortable, less busy (but still plenty busy), so I liked Toppenish. 🙂 It’s pronounced TOP-en-ish. It’s the largest city/town on the Yakama Indian Reservation. The word “toppenish” is derived from a Yakama word/s meaning “sloping downward and spreading” … likely describing the town’s location on the Yakima River.
One of the main tourist attractions in Toppenish is the American Hop Museum. You know about that place! There’s also a railway museum in Toppenish that I’ll visit in a day or two and share that experience with you.
But for this blog post, I just want to share a few photos I took in and around Toppenish. Toppenish is known for its murals. I didn’t realize that until too late in this camping trip. I’ll get more photos of those murals on my next trip here. For now, just come on along with me on a gentle drive around the town and then into the country.
Look at the crank on the front of the engine on this tractor. No “starter button” on this engine!
And look at the traction on the large wheels. I was told that no rubber tires were used on this tractor. I’m thinking those metal “treads” would work better than rubber tires anyway, maybe not so much on a paved road, but they sure would work well in the field.
A bit outside Toppenish, I found these goats. They are raised for meat, and for milk. I love goat cheese and found some made from local goat milk. It was so delicious and rich. I also love goat milk. The local goat milk here had a wildly different taste than the taste of goat milk that I buy at home in Safeway, etc. The local, natural goat milk here was delicious!
Back in Toppenish, there was this fruit processing plant with huge semi rigs loading or unloading. I liked the wall and the list of produce from this part of the world.
And then I started on my way back to my campsite just east of Yakima. But, just a tiny bit outside of Toppenish, I came upon this market (below). Everyone drove in, did not get out of their vehicle, but simply stayed in line as each vehicle drove, in turn, into the shade of that large roofed area. Employees would ask each driver what fruits or vegetables they wanted … then the order would be gathered and presented for approval … the people in the car/vehicle would pay … and off they would drive with their local produce. Given how hot it gets here in western Washington in the summer, this was a great idea. Everyone “shopped” while sitting in their air conditioned vehicles while parked in the shade. And the employees were in the shade as well. Cool!
The photos here show the pumpkin/squash produce grown locally and for sale.
What a great day.