Vroom Vroom

Market at the Square is revving up. June approaches, and with it the promise of a wider variety of local produce.

Strawberries from Live Springs Berries & Produce - Virginia, IL

Yep, it's strawberry season. This weekend, the Market will have several vendors selling different varieties of these totally luscious berries. Check rows 1, 2, and 4 of the Market. Time for shortcake! And muffins! And jam! And...!

Other produce: asparagus, peas (snow and sugar snap), salad mixes and lettuces, spinach, rhubarb, hydroponic tomatoes, pickling cukes, fresh herbs, chard, radishes, and I'll be danged if we don't see some blueberries lurking (arrive early).

Last week's Sprouts event was a success, with many kids learning about (and tasting!) seasonal, local food. When one of your Sprouts informs the workshop leader that her favorite vegetable is arugula, you know you need to be on your game. It was a good time, and we have more good times scheduled - the next Sprouts event will be on July 25, and of course we'll post information well in advance.

This week's special event: Art at the Market! After last October's very successful mask-making workshop, Urbana Public Arts Program coordinator Anna Hochhalter decided that more frequent partnerships between the Market and Urbana's Public Arts Program made perfect sense. The first collaboration of the year will be a free ceramics workshop, open to all ages, this weekend at the Market between 8 AM and noon, with local sculptor Suzanne Berkes facilitating the use of clay to create art exploring the theme of water. All materials and instruction are free and open to everyone, and registration is not required. The Urbana Public Arts Program provides opportunities for all residents to engage with the arts in its many forms... so get out to the Market and sculpt!

Also of note:

• Look for WICD's feature about Market vendors each Saturday on their newscasts at 6 and 10 PM.
• One of the Market's best-loved vendors, Prairie Fruits Farm, starts their Dinners on the Farm season this weekend. There are still seats available for several of the dinners - if you're interested in locally-sourced cuisine cheffed by local talent Chef Alisa, get thee to the Farm! Dinner there is worth every penny.

See everyone at the Market!