Midsummer!

Green onions from Roth Countryside Produce - Morton, IL

When Swedish folks wish each other a Happy Solstice, they say, "Glad Midsommar!" And, well, that works, since after a cool and wet spring, we're glad to have the warmer weather back.

Did it have to make such a hot and muggy entrance, though? I know. Whine, whine.

Anyway. All that rain and heat means Market shoppers will enjoy a veritable plethora of fruits and vegetables at the Market this weekend. As the last of the asparagus is harvested, the beans start to come on. As the heat and humidity start to tax the strawberries, the blueberries and peaches (you heard me!) start appearing on Saturdays. We'll have asparagus, beans, peas, salad greens, spinach, potatoes, cabbage, onions, leeks, broccoli, greens, herbs, berries and much more at the Market this weekend.

A couple new additions to tell you about - Staff of Life Bakery & Farms of Dwight, IL will offer up stoneground wheat breads, cookies, and quickbreads in Row 5. Roth Countryside Produce from Morton, IL is back, also in Row 5. Mileur Orchard will be bringing their peaches and other stone fruits starting this weekend - find them in Row 4.

Three other things worth mentioning:

U-Cycle will be out at the Market, ready to answer any and all questions about the City's recycling programs, including the new rgulations for the battery recycling program. Come visit Courtney at her tent, which is right next to the City's tent at the northwest corner of the Market.

Also, Urbana's Fire Rescue will be "filling the boot" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this Saturday. They'll be the guys with the fire engine on the blocked-off area of Walnut Street - go visit and help them fill that boot!

Lastly, if you like photos of the Market, go check out our Flickr photostream - new photos are usually posted every Monday or so. Food for the food nerds, crowd shots, photos of sparkly bits and colorful odds and bobs, farm photos - if it's Market-related, it's there.

As always, you can always drop me a line at ljbralts@city.urbana.il.us .