Urbana's Market at the Square

Season's Greetings

2011-12-16T09:28:00.000-06:00

Might be easier to get into the holiday spirit if we had some snow - how ABOUT this weather?? - but we'll do our best anyway.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!

We'll be back in 2012 with news about what we're working on with the Market, stuff going on in the world of food, and much more. Thanks so much for all your support in 2011 - we look forward to seeing everyone on May 5, 2012.

Not-So-Hibernatey

2011-12-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

People often wonder what Market staff is up to in the off-season. While we would certainly like to be holed up in a cave somewhere, snuggled under a warm blankie, sipping hot chocolate, and watching Muppet Show reruns on DVD, we're actually doing nothing of the sort. One word sums the off-season up pretty well:

Planning.

Policy nerds, market managers, and farmers enjoy getting together for conferences and exchanging ideas and best practices whenever they can, which is usually in the winter. The Illinois Grassroots Policy Advisory Committee will be having its annual meeting this week, and we'll be there; there's lots to talk about, both successes (Cottage Food Bill) and failures (a good national Farm Bill, for starters). UMATS will be speaking to growers about marketing themselves at one, and possibly two, Farm Beginnings gatherings in January, and will be speaking about community commitment to public markets at the Illinois Specialty Growers Conference, also in January. While we're there, we might be meeting with the Illinois Farmers Market Task Force for the first time, as well as with the steering committee for the fledgling Illinois Farmers Market Network, our statewide association. And it could be that we branch out of Illinois and deeper into the region by attending a conference put on by these folks in Ohio, but we're not sure yet.

Closer to home, we hope to have a Farmers Market Advisory Commission (possibly named something else) ready to go well in advance of the 2012 season, which starts May 5, 2012. There's also a report to deliver about the 2011 season to City Council sometime in January or very early February (for previous years' reports, click here). Applications for the 2012 season will also be available in very early February, and once those start rolling in... whoa. We'll also be working with the C-UPHD on firming up new local cottage food guidelines for food vendors, thanks to a brand new Illinois Cottage Food Bill going into effect January 1, 2012. Then there's the marketing plan, staff, social media upkeep, Sprouts and Art at the Market planning...

We're very much looking forward to the 2012 season and hope you are, too. In the meantime, you can get more frequent updates about our doings (and the doings of others that might interest you) via our Facebook, Twitter, and Google + feeds - links to those are on the right. If you're feeling particularly lonely for the Market on a snowy winter day, you can check out our Flickr page for some summery images - the link to those is on the right, too.

Stay tuned for more news!

Miss You Much

2011-11-15T16:45:00.001-06:00

Remember - while we're done for the season, the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market is just getting started. The two markets share lots of vendors, including fresh produce growers. We heard Jeff Meyer of Meyer Produce tell someone he'll have Brussels sprouts for the duration of the Holiday Market - best get over there. YUM.

In other news:

The strategic plan for the Market was passed by City Council on November 7. Look for more information about what this means for the Market and its future. You can get a pretty solid idea by checking out the plan, which is available here as a PDF. Here's the mission statement for the Market that was approved as part of the plan:

Urbana's farmers market is a vibrant market that connects the community with local food growers and producers, strenghtens our local food economy, provides access to local artisans, and serves as a community gathering place.

We're now on Google Plus, if you're so inclined to follow us there.

The Market starts 172 days from today. Trust that the planning has already started.

Final Weekend

2011-11-03T09:56:00.001-05:00

More information about the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market at Lincoln Square, which starts 11/12 at 8 AM and runs through 12/17 at 1 PM, is available here. You can follow them on Facebook, too!

For those of you who are all about the outdoor farmers market experience in Urbana... it's coming to an end for the season after this Saturday's market. The weather forecast for this bittersweet day is auspicious - a chilly start in the 30s, but sunny and into the high 50s by the time we end the season at noon - and there will be food. Lots of food.

Not pictured: Some of the best carrots we've ever seen at the Market, huge piles of broccoli and cauliflower, some hanging-on-for-dear-life heirloom tomatoes, tons (literally?) of squash, and more. We would be remiss if we didn't mention how gorgeous the greens are right now, too. They're amazing!

While we won't have as many artisans at the Market as in weekends past, several of them are still out at the Market this weekend, hoping to help you get a head start on your holiday shopping.

Speaking of potential gifts, this weekend will also be a great opportunity to pick up a Market T-shirt or shopping bag. The T-shirts are available in a variety of adult and kid sizes and are $10 ($8 for kids). The bags are roomy, sturdy, and made from recycled cotton - $15! Both items are great gifts. The staff at the City tent at the NW entrance to the Market will be happy to sell you either one (both?) of these.

Community groups, CraveTruck and Candide Roasteries will be in Row 4, ready to provide info, engagement, waffles, and strong coffee.

Thank you so, so much for your patronage at the Market this season. Staff, vendors, community organizations, and musicians appreciate your support of their food, their work, and of the local economy. We're already looking forward to next season - we hope to have a new strategic plan in place and will be working hard to bring an even better Market to the community in 2012. Also, we'll be updating this blog periodically during the off-season with Market-related news and other items of potential interest to readers - please don't remove us from your feed readers or bookmarks! And remember - we invite feedback in comments, or you can always drop us a line via email.

In the meantime - swing by and say farewell to us. It'll be worth your time. The Market is smaller in size, but not in spirit on its last day.

We're Not Done Yet!

2011-10-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

The Market runs through November 5. For more information about the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market, please click here.

Funny how some folks think farmers market season should be over by now. After all, it's late October! There's not much left in home gardens! No peaches, no sweet corn - no food, right?!

WRONG.

There's no shortage of food at the Market late in the season. If anything, there's more food available to all you eaters, not less. We didn't even get the photos of the fruit - apples and pears have been delightful.

Last week's chilly temperatures froze a few things out - the Owens family, whose cut flowers are a highlight of the Market every weekend, won't be back for the rest of the season due to the heavy frost they experienced - but you can expect the Market to look, food-wise, a lot like what you see above. That includes the sun, thank goodness.

While we have nothing official going on for Halloween this season, costumes are always encouraged at the Market on the weekend before, and treats are to be had at several vendor booths - and the City tent! Make sure you bit the entire Market. Speaking of...

... the Market will likely be consolidated into a total of 4 rows, including community organizations, this weekend. Yes - community organizations are still around - in fact the folks from Staerkel Planetarium will be there with two telescopes (one for safely viewing the sun!), the C-U Folk & Roots Festival will be there, CIMIC will be there, U of I UNICEF, and several others. Look for them on the east side of the Market, in the same row as Crave Truck (pumpkin waffles through 11/5!) and Candide Roasteries.

By the way - don't forget the Market merch! We still have t-shirts left - men's and women's are $10 apiece, and kids' shirts are $8 - and just a few totebags remain (see photo in last week's blog entry) - they're 100% recycled cotton, are extremely roomy & durable, and are just $15. Come find 'em at the City tent.

The Market's draft strategic plan was presented to Urbana City Council's Committee of the Whole this past Monday night, and it looks good for passing the Council on 11/7. Thanks very much to everyone who provided input about the Market - it will help us do the best possible job with the Market in the short- and long-term future. You can watch the presentation here.

Thanks so much for all your support this season. Please come visit us these last two weeks!

Final Push

2011-10-20T11:29:00.004-05:00

Our last day is Saturday, November 5, from 7 AM - noon. The Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market gets underway at Lincoln Square on Saturday, November 12, and runs through Saturday, December 17. More info here.

The end of the outdoor Market season is peeking at us.

The weather this week has been blustery and wet and downright cold after such a hot summer and a few mini-blasts of warmer weather these past few weeks. It feels good to report we're getting a reprieve for Saturday's Market. It'll be cool, especially in the morning, but the wind will die down and the skies will be sunny and things will be dry. Oh, and there'll be food. Lots and lots of food.

Last weekend was terrific - very busy, lots of patrons. We're hoping for the same this weekend, because the real revelation right now, food-wise, is the cooler-weather produce. Last weekend we saw beautiful heirloom tomatoes (ripened during that last warm spell) Misato and Daikon radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, an amazing array of squash, potatoes, onions, kales... it was incredibly colorful, especially when you added the peppers, leeks, apples, beets, and cabbages. This week you can add carrots to the mix, and you might even run across some Brussels sprouts and a few other surprises. There's nothing like loading up your Market shopping bag* with gorgeous, fresh, local produce and doing something warm and bakey or soupy or stewy with it later. It really is the season to fire up that oven.

* We have just a few Market bags left. 100% recycled cotton canvas, very sturdy, very roomy, and a steal at $15. When they're gone, they're gone, and they won't be available again until May 2012, and they may not be this design! If you've been procrastinating, we recommend stopping by the City tent and snagging one ASAP! See here:

The Market has grown smaller in response to the cold - we lose vendors to weather - so if you're looking for someone, they may actually be at the Market, just in another location. Check with the staff at the City tent - they can help you out.

Part of this consolidation has been the relocation of the community groups to the east side of the Market. Their ranks have thinned as well, but this weekend you'll see CIMIC, CU Folk & Roots Festival, the Urbana Business Association, and several others. Also in Row 5 - Candide Roasteries and the Crave Truck, both of which will warm you right up.

Beautiful, Plentiful, Colorful

2011-10-13T10:41:00.001-05:00

Fall - it's here. Last week's warmth notwithstanding (and we still haven't had our first frost), the angle of the sun and the amount of daylight don't lie. Neither do the fall colors, both in foliage and in food.

You'll probably notice that the Market is shrinking in size - that's normal for us this time of year, as we lose vendors to the season and the finicky weather. Even with fewer vendors, quality remains very high - there's good eating out there this weekend - see above.

Our special guest this weekend is U-Cycle - they're the City of Urbana's curbside recycling program, and this year they're celebrating their 25th year of service. Swing by the NW entrance of the Market to wish them well or to ask questions - even if you don't live in Urbana, they can answer recycling questions. Not only that, the Landscape Recycling Center is available to all county residesnts - they may be visiting at the Market as well this weekend.

Community organizations are now in Row 5, cozied up to our very popular prepared food vendors. This week you can visit with the U of I 1867 Society, CIMIC, the Champaign County Forest Preserve, the C-U Folk & Roots Festival, and several others. These organizations offer lots of information about their services, volunteer opportunities, and other ways for you to get involved when they visit the Market. We encourage you to pay them a visit!

It's always a little bittersweet as we approach the end of the season. As ever, we appreciate your support and enthusiasm and dedication to the Market all season long, but especially as we head down the home stretch. THANK YOU.

Rocktober

2011-10-06T16:53:00.003-05:00

It's hard not to feel good when the weather forecast is so utterly wonderful for the second Market of October. We ask you - what's not to like?

Last weekend was sunny, too, though not nearly as warm. Have a look:

It was a lovely day, despite the chill. You'll be seeing fall produce similar to what you're seeing above - potatoes, gourds & pumpkins, peppers, salad and other greens, cabbage, tomatoes (larger ones - the smaller ones are on their way out), some melons, beans (string, edamame, and others), eggplant, tomatillos, radishes, apples and pears, and probably a few surprises. Last week was the final week for Schottman's sweet corn, and while we could still see some corn from Kleiss Produce, as of this writing we're just not sure. You'll have to come see.

When you do visit, you'll notice a few changes at the Market. This time of year, we tend to lose vendors due to iffy weather and lack of produce, so we consolidate the Market to avoid big gaps in space. This weekend, our community organizations will be located in Row 5 (that's the row closest to Vine Street) along with Candide Roasteries and the CraveTruck, and will be located there through the end of the season. Vendors you may have visited in Row 5 will be in other locations within the Market - please ask the staff at the City tent if you're having trouble locating someone! Community organizations in attendance this weekend include Champaign County Democrats, the U of I Physics van, NAMI, Campus Middle School For Girls, Sierra Club, and others. Remember - Row 5!

This weekend features our final Sprouts at the Market event of the season. We usually work with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank on this event every October, and this season is no exception. Our event this year is called "Helping Your Peeps" and is all about teaching kids how the Foodbank works and who it serves. There'll be activities, a story about Dan the Can, and giveaways, including a Sprouts at the Market tote bag, while supplies last. The event goes from 9-11 AM. Next weekend - U-Cycle in the house!

We hope you add the Market to your must-do list this weekend - it promises to be lovely and lots of fun!

Pumpkin' Up the Volume

2011-09-29T13:52:00.000-05:00

It's pumpkin time. Warty or smooth, these orange beacons of a new season are at the Market and are ready for carving, adorning your front porch or table, or... eating! Yep, eating. Everywhere you look there's pumpkin-flavored coffee, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin etc. Why not make some pumpkin soup, or a pie, or some scones on your own with the little pie pumpkins (also known as sugar pumpkins) some of our growers are offering up? It's easy to make your own puree.

This weekend's Market will be cool and sunny and just about perfect. If you're coming to town for the U of I Homecoming game vs Northwestern, welcome! Then get on over to the Market early to grab some breakfast and pick up some produce. We'll have plenty - we're looking at lots of peppers, beans, other fall squash, broccoli, cabbages, onions, potatoes, salad greens, chards & kales, and a few straggling tomatoes (it's been a tough tomato year). A bit of sweet corn and the probable end of the melons will be available this weekend, too. Growers will be offering seasonal cut flowers in bouquets and other arrangements, as well as potted mums and asters to plant into your yard. And, of course, our artisans will be offering up quite the array of beautiful, handmade things - many seasonal in nature.

Community organizations at the Market this weekend - Urbana Business Association, Sister Cities Project, Infant Cognition Lab, Champaign County Health Care Consumers, CIMIC, St. Patrick's, TIMES Center, and others. Come check out these organizations - they're in our community to help, but at the Market they also have information on how YOU can help, whether it's as a volunteer or a donor. The groups are currently located on the west end of the Market, between the Market's two main entrances. This weekend, look also for the Urbana Free Library near the City tent at the NW entrance - they'll be there for the final time this season, filling helium balloons and reading stories to kids and answering questions about the library from 8 AM - 11 AM.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in last weekend's Art at the Market workshop. Many, many patrons came by and made "Shrinky-Dink" -style crafts with local artist Lori Caterini. The final Art at the Market workshop of the season will be on Saturday, October 29. More details when we get them!

Looking forward to seeing all your faces at the Market this weekend!

Falling In

2011-09-22T16:28:00.003-05:00

Last week's Market fell on an early autumn-perfect Saturday. It was chilly in the morning and quite warm by noon and a lot of people came, as you can see. They bought food, they bought flowers, they bought arts & crafts, they visited with their friends, they participated in the Sprouts workshop, they hung out with the community organizations, and they generally enjoyed themselves. It's what people do at the Market every weekend during the season, and we're glad they do.

The season is winding down, a little. Summer produce is on its way out; much of it is done already (peaches coming to mind, here). That's OK. It makes way for fall produce - the squashes and root vegetables that bring so much color to Market tables... and our tables. The flowers now offered are hardier and able to stand up to cooler temperatures. There are pumpkins alongside the melons. It really is a terrific time of year at the Market.

We talked about local produce and its benefits with ciLiving yesterday. ciLiving is a new show on WCIA that's on from 4-5 PM with all local content. Click here for the video. It was great - the feature before our segment was all about Market vendor Prairie Fruits Farm, and the segment after ours featured Market vendor The Cravetruck.

Community groups this weekend: Look for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, AWARE, Illinois Club, Champaign County Democrats, U of I Physics (with cool stuff!), Habitat for Humanity, Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus, ASPCA, and others will be in the community organizations area on the western side of the Market, right between our two main entrances. Please go give them your support.

Special activity this week: Art at the Market, the Urbana Public Arts Program's free, monthly hands-on workshops for people of all ages, will be happening this weekend with local artist Lori Caterini teaching everyone how to make "Eco Shrinky Dinks" from #6 plastic. If you have a stash of #6 plastic lying around (U-Cycle can't accept it for recycling, so you just might!), bring it with you! The workshop is continuous and goes from 8 AM - noon.

Hope to see you there this weekend - rain or shine.

Packed Saturday

2011-09-15T13:12:00.000-05:00

It's Sprouts time again at the Market! This month we're working with the Family Resiliency Center to bring not just nutrition information, and not just information about farms and farmers, but information about healthy family mealtimes, too. The event goes from 9-11 AM this Saturday and is FREE. Not only that, all kids who finish the Market-wide workshop will receive a special (and extremely cute) prize AND an official certificate of participation.... which is good for 25% off at Art Mart Toys all day Saturday. Come find us at the Sprouts tent - it'll be at the NW entrance to the Market. Questions? Just call 217-384-2319 or drop us a line.

With the cooler temperatures, we're starting to get excited about eating soup and stew... must have been the pumpkins, squashes, and potatoes we saw last week. Cooler weather also means that eating outdoors - whether while tailgating for the game this weekend (6 PM start at Memorial Stadium) or while having people over for a backyard cookout - is way more pleasant. These activities are a great chance to take advantage of the Market's selection of late summer and early fall veggies, early fall fruit, and farm-raised meats. There is just something awesome about eating in cooler weather. Especially if it's an apple galette.

In addition to Sprouts, the Graduate Students in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (GEEB) will be at the Market this weekend offering Market-goers a chance to get their hands dirty. If you're feeling particularly brave, you can pet their corn snake or their blue-tongued skink. Look for them in the Community Organizations row at the west end of the Market. Other groups this week: Eastern Illinois Foodbank, AWARE, Practical Assistance For Survivors, Infant Cognition Lab, Chambana Moms, Champaign County Democrats, Champaign County Forest Preserve, CU Folk & Roots Festival, Champaign County YMCA, and others. A swing through this area will give you a lot of insight about what's going on in our community. Please go check them out!

It's looking like a busy Market this weekend... see you out there!

We Can See You, Fall 2011

2011-09-08T09:40:00.003-05:00

This weekend, in addition to the Market, we'll be co-sponsoring, with Common Ground Food Co-op, an event with Ken Meter, nationally-recognized food systems analyst, over at the Co-op (just to the northwest of the Market site). Mr. Meter will be presenting his findings about the central Illinois food system and how we can make local food more of a priority for the enhancement of sustainability, community health, and economic development in our area. His presentation begins at 10:30 AM and runs until noon, including a Q&A session with the audience. It's totally free and it's open to the public. Head over after picking up your Market goodies! Highly recommended if you're interested in seeing more locally-produced food in institutions and in larger grocery stores, if you'd like to see more restaurants carrying menu items made with local food, or if you're interested in encouraging community food security in our area. For more info, call 217-384-2319 or drop us a line.

We're in that time between the seasons. Actually, the weather can't decide which season it is (high 90s last weekend, mid-70s this weekend), but the calendar doesn't lie. We're heading into Fall. Where did the summer go?

That's OK, though. It's a season full of color and food and, hopefully, cooler weather. If you come to the Market this weekend, you'll find cooler temps and a vast selection of fresh, Illinois-grown food. And while a few things are on the wane (peaches/nectarines and berries, especially), some things (winter squashes, apples/pears) are on the rise. That's seasonality for you. Isn't it great?

FACET (Friends Against Children's Empty Tummies) will be having their annual bake sale in our community organizations area THIS WEEKEND. All proceeds go to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, who will also be in attendance. The baked goods? QUALITY. The cause? MIGHTY. Please visit them - our community organizations area is right smack between the two main entrances to the Market, on the west end.

Speaking of community organizations, we'll also be having the Parkland Natural Sciences folks out at the Market conducting all kinds of experiments - fun for kids, fun for adults. A preview of the planned activities can be found here. Other organizations we plan on seeing this weekend: Champaign County Democrats, U of I Vet Med, the Infant Cognition Lab, Illinois Club, CIMIC, Sierra Club, and others. Also - the Community Blood Services of Illinois will have their Bloodmobile out in the parking lot west of the Market site this weekend - see them if you're interested in donating blood. They'll be there from 7:30 - noon.

Reminder - Urbana's Market at the Square takes credit/debit cards, and we accept the LINK card as well - now with a double value program that can help LINK users stretch their resources. For more info about Double Value for LINK, click here.

As you can see, there's plenty to do and see at the Market this Saturday. We hope to see you there!

Summer Redux

2011-09-01T14:17:00.001-05:00

Well, September isn't trying to make friends, is it? At this writing (Thursday, 1:30 PM), it's 97 degrees outside. Tomorrow's high is forecast to be 99 degrees. And Saturday? A cool 91 degrees. I guess we can all pretend it's July one last time...

... and make pesto for our Labor Day festivities. You can also still pick up peaches from southern IL (definitely on the wane, so now's the time to stock up if you do any preservation) and sweet corn for the grill.

Other fruits and veg you'll see at the Market this weekend besides those mentioned above: tomatoes of all kinds, melons of all kinds, beans, okra, greens, peppers, eggplant, cucucmbers, summer squash & zucchini, onions, potatoes, carrots, fresh herbs, nectarines (probably the last weekend for these), assorted berries (probably the last weekend for these, too), and some early apples/pears and fall squashes. This is in addition to the frozen, farm-raised meats, farmstead goat cheese and goat's milk gelato, farm-raised eggs, honey, and home-grown/arranged flowers. And while it's hard to think about fall plantings and flowers, chrysanthemum season is upon us, and several of our plant and flower folks will have them ready for you to take home.

As always, there'll be a wide variety of baked goods and prepared foods, iced/hot coffee and tea and other beverages, and the work of area artisans to check out. This weekend woodworkers, photographers, candle and soapmakers, upcycled apparel creators, painters, glassblowers, knitters & crocheters, and others will be showing their work at the Market.

A few vendors you might have been wondering about:

Danville Gardens: Back in their usual Row 3 digs this week.
Blue Ribbon Apiaries: Back for 2 dates in September - this weekend and 9/17.
Veggie Trails: on (possibly permanent) hiatus.
Sager Farms, aka "The Peach Lady From Southern IL": Done for the season.
Eberlin's Orchard: Done for the season.
Red Herring: Done for the season - too busy making food on campus!

Is there someone you've been wondering about? Drop us a line and we can try to help you out.

Community organizations often take a break over Labor Day weekend, but we have some great groups coming this weekend - among them the U of I Nanotech folks, who will be doing some demos at the Market this weekend. For a preview for what they'll be up to, check out this video. Other visitors include Vet Med, Illinois Club, Champaign County HOUSE, Jobs For Justice, Champaign County Democrats, and several more. Organizations are now located on the west end of the Market, between the two entrances, and are a great resource for information and volunteer opportunities.

Details about our event with Ken Meter will be available ASAP - in the meantime, mark your calendar for September 10, 10:30 AM - noon, at Common Ground Food Co-op. Ken will be delivering a presentation about central IL's existing food system and things we can do to make our local food economy much more robust. He'll also be taking questions from the audience. This is an important issue that affects all of us - it would be great to see you there.

Full Swing

2011-08-25T14:29:00.000-05:00

School's in session, the weather is just barely thinking about starting its seasonal shift, and the Market, we expect, will be hopping this weekend.

The summer trifecta (sweet corn, tomatoes, and peaches) is still widely available at Market stalls. Peaches are winding down, though, so if you want the best selection you need to get to the Market soon. Happily, peak sweet corn and tomatoes will be around for weeks to come.

Other produce - berries, greens, potatoes, summer squash & zucchini, cukes, beans, onions, okra, melons, and just about all summer produce will be widely available this weekend.

[Speaking of sweet corn, Urbana's Sweet Corn Festival starts this Friday in downtown Urbana at 5 PM and goes 'til 11 PM. The Festival continues Saturday from 11 AM - 11 PM. Corn, food vendors, activities for kids, lots of music - it's THE classic way to bid August adieu. ]

Community organizations attending the Market this weekend: Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Campus Middle School For Girls, Illinois Club, Crisis Nursery, Mothers & More, CIMIC, TIMES Center, U of I Nanotechnology, The Land Connection, and several others. The organizations provide interested patrons with information about their activities and possible volunteer opportunities, and like our farmers and vendors, are "homegrown". Check 'em out on the west side of the Market!

If you ever have any questions about the Market, you're welcome to go to the City of Urbana tent, located at the NW entrance to the Market, and ask. Staff there also accept lost and found items, can run your credit, debit, or LINK cards for tokens (especially great if you have the LINK card or have run out of cash), sell you one of our very popular T-shirts and/or tote bags, and can take feedback directly/hook you up with one of our "Something to Crow About?" comment cards. They're there to help!

As mentioned over the last couple of weeks, the Market is now doubling LINK token purchases up to $20 per card, per Market day. More information is here, or you can ask the staff at the City tent to help you out. The program has been a huge success thus far, but we want more new shoppers coming to the Market and using these resources. Do us a favor - help us spread the word about this program. It really is something we're so excited to be able to do, and part of our outreach plan is to use word of mouth in addition to posters and brochures.

Farmers markets have been in the news quite a bit these days:

You can vote for your favorite farmers market at this contest sponsored by the American Farmland Trust. If you want to vote for us (and we hope you do), click on the "large markets" tab at the link above and cast your vote.

Grist asked the question: Too many markets? Or not enough farmers? The article is interesting... and so are the comments. What do you think?

Here's another piece on the subject... and this piece is also related...

Finally, watch this space for more information on an event about the central Illinois food system featuring food systems analyst Ken Meter of the Crossroads Resource Center in Minneapolis, MN. We're co-presenting it with Common Ground Food Co-op on Saturday, September 10. Details coming soon!

Welcome!

2011-08-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

Urbana-Champaign, as we type, is going from a sleepy and quiet and summery college town to a wired, populous, and still quite summery bustling mini-metropolis. The U of I students are returning - or arriving for the first time - and it's though a giant has been awakened. While summer in U-C is lovely, there's something about the energy that comes with the student population that's transformative. We're glad you're here.

So! New here? Or - returning student who couldn't make it to the Market back in May? We'd love to have you visit the Market this weekend - bring your families, if they're still here! The fresh food, produce, and flowers are peaking right now, so if you're looking for amazing local eats, this is the place. We also offer up a variety of baked goods and prepared foods to augment the fresh stuff. Really, the Market is lucky to have such exceptional growers and food providers.

Oh - in case you weren't aware (and this is good to know if you run our of cash at the Market), the Market accepts credit, debit and LINK cards. The new LINK Double Value program, launched just last weekend, is going to be a huge success, if the launch is any indicator. WCIA even came out and did a segment about it. Many thanks to those who came to the Market for the very first time - we hope you'll be back.

Local artisans are showing their work every weekend, too. This weekend you'll see paintings, jewelry of all kinds, blown glass, textiles, photography, leatherwork, woodwork, furniture, and more - perfect for gifts or dressing up your living space a little bit.

Look, too, for performance. We don't have a schedule of performers - our performers are busking throughout the Market. You might hear bluegrass, folk,acoustic indie rock, solo ukelele, one-man percussion, and who knows what else on a swing through all six rows of the Market.

If you're new to town and are looking for volunteer opportunities, or just want to find out what else is going on in the area, our community organizations area is the place to go on Saturday. This weekend you can talk to folks from the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, AWARE, CIMIC, St. Patrick's, Community Center For the Arts, Community Blood Services of Illinois, CARE Center, and several animal rescue groups will be in attendance, too. The organizations will be more than happy to talk with you about their efforts.

Special events coming up - Art at the Market on 8/27, the Urbana Free Library will be out 9/3, and our next Sprouts at the Market event will be 9/17 in partnership with the U of I's Family Resiliency Center.

We're glad to have you back!

It's Farmers Market Week!

2011-08-11T10:56:00.000-05:00

We love the fact that there's an entire week dedicated to farmers markets - to the growing, purchasing, and consuming of local foods, to commerce and relationship between producer and consumer, to encouraging people to get out and socialize and see what else is in the area. Farmers markets are great for everyone. Here's how the Farmers Market Coalition (we're proud members) has laid it out:

Seven Days, Seven Ways to Celebrate Farmers Market Impacts

Sunday, August 7^th: Farmers markets and community education
Innovative partnerships that allow markets to serve as hubs of information

Monday, August 8^th: Farmers markets and public health
Promoting good nutrition and healthful habits

Tuesday, August 9^th: Farmers markets as economic engines
Business incubation, job development, and local spending

Wednesday, August 10^th: Farmers at the center of the system
Governance and policies that put farmers first

Thursday, August 11^th: Farmers markets and food equity
Improving access to healthful foods in underserved neighborhoods

Friday, August 12^th: Farmers markets and civic engagement
Growing social capital and engaging volunteers

Saturday, August 13^th: Farmers markets and rural renewal
Supporting agricultural diversity and farm viability, while inspiring a new generation of producers

Good stuff. It's all really important to us, but the food equity piece is especially important. We've been accepting the LINK card since 2010, and in 2011 season we received a grant to double the number of LINK tokens requested by patrons using their LINK card - up to $20 per card, per Market day. This is a great way for people receiving LINK benefits to stretch resources, and for farmers and food producers to get their foods into new households. Win-win! For more information about the new LINK Double Value program, click here. The program's debut is this weekend.

[And, yes, that photo of peaches on the page linked above was taken at our market!]

This weekend's weather is suddenly starting to look a little touchy. Of course, you'd never let a little rain stop you from snapping up the best in-season locally grown stuff, would you?

And even though we're all about the food for Farmer Market Week, don't forget that our prepared food vendors and our artisans contribute hugely to making the Market what it is today. You have to explore all five rows to get the real idea.

Also this weekend:

It's our annual corn event for Sprouts at the Market. Sprouts is nutrition and farm linkage programming for kids ages 3-8 - it starts at 9, runs until 11, is completely free, and features samples of corn in its many forms and lots of cool facts about corn. All kids finishing all tables at the Market receive a Certificate of Participation, which they can then take over to Art Mart Toys for a 20% discount. NOTE: If it's raining at 8:30 on Saturday or rain is imminent, we'll be canceling the event. Stay tuned for a possible rain date.

Community groups participating this week on the west side of the Market: Vet Med, Chambana Moms, Urbana Business Association, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Sierra Club, CIMIC, UP Center, The Land Connection, Habitat For Humanity, and several others. These folks have their finger on the pulse of what's happening in our area, and are especially good resources if you're looking for volunteer opportunities this fall. Check them out!

Finally, a warm welcome/welcome back to U of I students and faculty. Best wishes for a great semester - we hope to see you out at the Market each Saturday through November 5!

Spice of Life

2011-08-05T07:38:00.000-05:00

Variety, that is. And we have it at the Market this weekend (well, and every weekend!):

We're so lucky to have all these farmers and creators and entrepreneurs coming to the Market and offering up this gorgeous food and these lovely works of art.

Quickly, because this post is late - we want to announce that the Market very recently won a LINK UP Illinois grant to start doubling the value of LINK token purchases at the Market - up to $20 per card per Market day. This means that, starting August 13, if you bring your LINK card to the Market and swipe it for $20 in LINK tokens, you'll receive $40 in LINK tokens to spend on fresh food in the Market. It's good for our patrons, it's good for our vendors, and it's good for the Market. Much more information about how the Double Value Program will work can be found right here. Big ups to Experimental Station, Wholesome Wave, and Illinois Farmers Market Network for putting this grant program together.

The weather's looking good and the food's looking even better - plenty of community organizations (they're on the west side of the Market, right between our two main entrances) and performers will be rounding things out, too. Oh - and the City of Urbana's Downtown Plan will be up for review at the Market this Saturday - look for them by the City of Urbana and Urbana Free Library tents, located near the NW entrance to the Market.

See you out there - thanks, as always for your support.

Keeping It Local

2011-07-28T13:54:00.000-05:00

The Market, this time of year, can almost function as a one-stop shop.

Not pictured: the vast amount of other fruits and vegetables at the Market, the Market's bread, flour, and pasta offerings. The meat, cheese, honey, and eggs aren't pictured, either (we can't get to everything!). You can get flowers for your table, and gifts for your guests. There are clothes and soaps. There are treats for your pet and treats for yourself. And all of it is grown, prepared, or otherwise handmade by Illinois vendors. Come see us this weekend - community groups and performers will be out as well to round out the Market

Urbana's Market at the Square is also a big supporter of other markets - the more local foods and goods available in the community, the better. Our Market isn't alone out there.

Tuesdays, Market vendor Prairie Fruits Farm opens its farm just north of town to the public, offering not just their cheeses and gelato, but also produce from Blue Moon Farm and breads from Pekara Bakery & Bistro. Visitors can also hang with the goats and check out the farm. This on-farm market runs from 3-7 each Tuesday. More information can be found at their website.

Also on Tuesdays, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District offers up a small farmers market at their facility on Kenyon Road in Champaign. For more information, call 217-352-7961.

Wednesdays, Market vendor Kleiss Produce sets up their market, with others, in the Country Fair Shopping Center on Mattis in Champaign. Click here for more information. They're there from 7 AM - 1 PM.

Thursdays, the University of Illinois' Sustainable Student Farm sells its farm-grown produce at their stand on the Quad, just south of the Union, starting at 11 AM and running until 5 PM or sellout. Drop by and check out their produce - Zack and his crew are always happy to talk about what they're up to at the farm.

Also on Thursdays, there's the Historic North First Street Market near downtown Champaign. This afternoon market runs from 3-7 PM and is perfect for some post-workday shopping. This market runs through the last Thursday in August.

Markets are a fantastic opportunity to meet face-to-face with people producing your food and other goods. We hope you make ours a stop this Saturday - the last Saturday in July!

Summer Trifecta

2011-07-21T13:37:00.000-05:00

First of all? It's going to be hot. There's no way around it. We provides water at our tent, but if you're coming to the Market for an extended visit, you might want to bring your own water, too. A hat and some sunscreen wouldn't hurt, either. Things will really start warming up after 9 AM, so come early if you can.

It'll be worth it, for...

...the Holy Trinity of Summer has arrived. For the next bunch of weeks we'll have all three, but starting right now - July - to mid-August? The absolute, ultra-peak time for peaches, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Maybe even in the same meal. Probably not the same dish.

Other produce: berries galore, summer squashes and zucchini, cucumbers, onions, garlic, carrots, peppers, beans, lettuces, beets, okra, potatoes, cabbage, and much more. You'll get the best feel for what's at the Market if you shop all the rows - don't miss a trick.

Of course, great companions to these showpieces of the Market include the other farm-raised foods - the meats, the cheeses, the farmstead gelato, the honey, and the eggs. And no table would be complete without fresh flowers - the glads are in and we wouldn't be surprised to see some tuberose in the mix this weekend, but it's not for certain.

Prepared foods: CraveTruck will be offering up fresh street waffles in the SE corner of the Market. Fryer Tuck will be providing their delicious breakfast sandwiches, among other things, in the same area. Bakeries located throughout the Market will be selling pies, cupcakes, breads, cookies, pastries, cakes, and other lovely things. Pasta Alley offers up handmade pasta in Row 4. Barb's Jams & Jellies sells those things and more in Row 5. The Moo Mobile will be selling ice cream ("breakfast ice cream" is big at our house in the summer) in Row 5 and the kettle corn will be in Row 3, as always.

Artisans visiting this week will offer photography, glass, jewelry, leatherwork, woodwork, soap, textiles, and more. Beautiful work from local artists is a Market staple.

Community groups, now located on the west side of the Market, come to let everyone know what's happening in our community. This week, our visitors include the Urbana Business Association, the UP Center, AWARE, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Urbana Park District, Amasong, the Champaign County Forest Preserve, and several others. These groups have much to offer - news, volunteer opportunities, and much more.

The next Art at the Market event is July 30, and the next Sprouts event - all about corn - is August 13. We'll see you out there!

Beautiful & Bountiful

2011-07-14T10:15:00.001-05:00

Here are some photos of produce from last weekend's Market - taking snaps of the stuff can't be helped. It's so ATTRACTIVE in the early morning light. We threw in some particularly lovely candles and pendants for good measure.

C'mon. Look at those blueberries. You can look at these photos in larger sizes and other photos from the Market here.

Produce this week will look a lot like what you see above, plus some sweet corn, peaches, green beans, salad greens, kale & chard, fresh herbs, potatoes, peppers, and more. Other farm products - honey, farmstead gelato and goat cheese, meats, and eggs. Don't forget the other yummy stuff - the baked goods and the prepared foods. YUM.

Special to the Market this week:

Sprouts at the Market will be in full effect from 9 AM - 11 AM. There will be several tasting stations, chicks to pet at the Land Connection's booth in the community groups area, certificates of participation for all kids completing all stations, and plenty of nutrition information. All the farmers who donated produce to this workshop will be wearing Sprouts nametags and will be happy to chat with kids about their farms. Bring your Sprout (the workshops are geared for kids ages 3-8) to the Market! The Sprouts tent will be located near the NW entrance to the Market.

The Market's strategic planning effort is moving into another public input stage, this time about a draft version of the plan. Please visit the tent they'll have set up near the NW entrance to the Market and give your feedback, ask questions, etc.

Community groups visiting this weekend: Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, REGAP (greyhound rescue), ChambanaMoms, AWARE, The Land Connection (with baby chicks!), Community Center For the Arts, Vet Med, and several others. Come see what's happening in your community - the groups are located on the western end of the Market, between our two main entrances.

We appreciate the support we've received over the years. There's an easy way to support us by just clicking a few times - go here to vote for us as a favorite farmers market in Illinois. We're in second place right now!

See you this weekend...

Peachy

2011-07-07T11:34:00.000-05:00

After last Saturday's swelter, it'll be nice to get back to plain old summery this weekend, won't it?

So. It's time for peaches.

You get the idea.

Peaches are perfect for crumbles and cobblers and pies and ice cream and shortcake and jamming and, you know, just eating plain. They're also in season, finally, and our growers who carry peaches, like Cary's Garden of Eatin' and Mileur Orchard and Sager Farms already have peaches at the Market, while others like Kleiss Produce, Eberlin's Orchard, and Murray's Orchard will have peaches very soon, possibly this weekend and almost certainly by next weekend. Some ideas for what to do with all those peaches can be found here.

Other produce of note include berries, summer squash, cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, fresh herbs, and much more. It's not likely we'll have sweet corn this weekend thanks to the cool and damp spring, but you never know. Don't forget the meats, cheese, eggs, fresh-made farmstand gelato, and honey, either!

CraveTruck will be at the Market this weekend - also look for breakfast sandwiches from Fryer Tuck, kettle corn, iced coffee and teas from ArtMart, and tons of baked goods from local bakers - pie, cupcakes, rolls, breads, pastries, and more.

It's a feast out there, you guys.

Community organizations hanging with us this weekend: UP Center, AWARE, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Illinois Club, Sierra Club, CIMIC, Campus Middle School For Girls, Habitat For Humanity, and several others. These folks know what's going on in our communities and want to tell you about it - please take a stroll through their area on the west end of the Market and find out what's happening around here.

It's a glorious part of the season, the weather's fine, and the fresh food is the best you can buy anywhere, not to mention the only place you can buy it directly from the person who grew it other than the farm itself. Supporting your local growers and entrepreneurs is easy - and delicious.

We'll see you out there - don't forget the sunscreen!

Sweet Heat

2011-06-30T10:47:00.000-05:00

Remember last week? So sunny and downright temperate? Well, it'll be sunny and gorgeous for the Market this Saturday, but it's going to be warm - exactly the right way to usher in July and the middle of summer.

Here are some scenes from last weekend. This weekend will look similar, only better and foodier, we think. Imagine... peaches, tomatoes, berries, potatoes, summer squash, cucumbers, and more...

If you're not heading out of town for the weekend but instead have people coming to you, bring them to the Market - it's a major slice of C-U summer weekend life. Having a cookout? The Market's vendors can provide just about everything you need for grillables, sides, salads, and desserts. Our vendors also offer a great selection of gifts and art, too.

Community groups with us this weekend on Walnut Street: Vet Med, Champaign County Bikes, Urbana Free Library, Crisis Nursery, Community Center for the Arts, Champaign County Democrats, Amasong, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, and several others. We'll also have some seating in that area so you can grab some shade, eat your waffle from CraveTruck or your sandwich from Fryer Tuck, or sip your iced coffee/tea from Art Mart, and chat. Please swing through!

Overall, it's shaping up to be a terrific weekend - make us a part of it!

Solstice Week

2011-06-23T11:34:00.000-05:00

Summer Solstice has come and gone, but we like to think it's still with us for the next couple of weeks, with the later sunsets and the early sunrises. Summer's here, and things are finally getting going.

We're expecting decent weather this weekend - which is big news - but the REAL news is that summer produce is working its way into the Market. There were peaches last weekend. Luscious, yummy peaches.

You know it's summer when the peaches show up. It's only going to get peachier from here on out, too, so consult your cookbooks (or fire up the Google) for dessert recipes and jam recipes. Or... just eat them plain. Plain is good.

Also spotted last weekend:

By the way - the zipper pulls on those pouches, made by artisan Jennifer Phillips, say "Market Money". What better place to keep your cash or Market tokens?

This weekend's programming is another Art at the Market event - this time, local artist David Black will be working with patrons of all ages to make recycled paper. The workshop is free, no registration is required, and the workshop goes from 8 AM - noon. The tent's location is TBA - please check in at the City tent at the NW entrance to the Market for details on Saturday.

Community groups in residence this weekend: One-To-One Mentoring, ACLU, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, U of I's Entomology folks (all about pollinators!), Champaign County Democrats, Vet Med, and several others. Please swing through the row at the westernmost end to see what these community organizations are up to.

See you out there!

Better Late Than Never

2011-06-17T17:03:00.000-05:00

We've been so busy watching the skies and the radar that we forgot to post. This is the most weather-affected Market we've seen in several years.

So. It might rain for the Market. It might not. Do you come to the Market when it rains? Would you come if you knew the season's first peaches would be there, all the way from southern Illinois? You'd have to come early to snag them. Mmm. Peaches.

Sprouts at the Market is on for tomorrow, unless it's raining cats & dogs (chard & broccoli?) at 8:30 AM, in which case we'll have to cancel. We're calling it "Market 101" - it's dedicated to explaining to the younger set what "local" and "seasonal" and "organic" mean, and why fruits and veggies rule so much. Heck, their caregivers might learn something, too! It's free and runs from 9 AM - 11 AM - just look for the 4 small stations inside the Market displaying Sprouts' chick symbol, or register at the Sprouts tent at the NW entrance to the Market.

Our community groups area is a work in progress. We want YOU to hang out there. We've added some seating - all the better to hang out and chat with friends while you much on your Cravetruck waffle and read information from one of the many community organizations visiting us on Market days. Yes - community organizations and waffles are two great tastes that will, we hope, go great together. Cravetruck will be located at the south end of the westernmost row of the Market. Community groups like Chambanamoms.com, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, REGAP, the Land Connection, and several other groups will be there to inform and educate our community. Please pay them a visit!

A few photos from last weekend to whet your appetite:

Spring to Summer to Springish

2011-06-09T14:54:00.000-05:00

Whoa. Last weekend was a trip, wasn't it? The Market was 80 degrees when it opened at 7 AM last Saturday, and it was all uphill from there - the high that day was 97 degrees. It may have been the hottest actual Market day in several years, certainly in the last three.

We're starting to see a shift in the growing season. The weather has surely helped speed things up, but the calendar also points ahead to the Summer Solstice, which this year is on June 21. Garlic scapes are ready, the first of the greenhouse cucurbitae are ready, the peas are ready, and we hear we'll probably have the first green beans of the season this weekend as well. If you're lucky, you'll still find some stray asparagus or rhubarb, but that's looking mostly done for 2011.

As for strawberries - like last week, get thee to the Market early. We're not sure what this week's heat has meant to the berries, but what there is to be had will likely go quickly. If you want real-time updates on the berry situation, may we suggest following the Market on Twitter or Facebook? Those two accounts are updated frequently, often with late-breaking news about available food.

This weekend, we're planning to introduce our first attempt at a seating area in the community groups row on the west side of the Market, located between our two main entrances. The plan is to have three tents set up with tables and chairs underneath so people can catch some shade and mingle a bit and have a bite to eat. We have some other plans for the area in the hopper as well. This week, patrons will be able to visit with the Urbana Business Association, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, the Illinois Club, the Sierra Club, Webber Street Christian Church, the Champaign County Master Gardeners, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, and several other groups offering information, conversation, and opportunities.

We expect the weather to cooperate - we always do - but also advise you, dear patrons, to keep an eye on it. The Market goes rain or shine, so if you need to, find your umbrella and galoshes, because we'll be there.

See you this weekend!

Quick, Like Strawberry Season

2011-06-02T11:50:00.000-05:00

Short update for a short week:

Strawberries will be in short supply this week, as the weather has wrought utter havoc on our barely-existent strawberry season. If you need berries, we urge you to come early.

Asparagus and rhubarb are winding down a bit - they'll still be at the Market, but the season is ending. Look, though, for plenty of lettuces, salad greens, spinach, green onions, plants, flowers, etc.

New this week, we hope: BISON.

The bison folks, if all the pieces fall into place, will be located at the north end of the Market.

Look for a full row of community groups on the west end of the Market this week - Amasong, Champaign County Bikes, AWARE, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, CIMIC, Habitat For Humanity, Community Center For the Arts, Crisis Nursery, UP Center, and others will be represented. Next week we'll offer seating in this area - it'll become a terrific place to hang out and chat, gather information, eat that pastry you bought, and take a break from shopping.

Sorry for the brevity, but there's a lot going on! Just know this: the weather is going to be warm and gorgeous Saturday morning. Please consider making the Market a part of your day if you don't already - and many thanks if you already do. We'll see you out there!

Mother Nature Always Wins

2011-05-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

We were expecting conditions at last week's Market to look much like the below photo (minus the cars in the lot, of course), but the rain held off, and we wound up having a solid mid-May Market day. Produce and other items were sold to many patrons. Community groups were visited and spoken with. Performers performed. Sprouts at the Market went on as planned (over 60 kids planted bean seeds and learned a bit about how vegetables grow! Thanks, Master Gardeners!). There was a Bike Rodeo (thanks, C-U Safe Routes to School Project!). It got warm. All in all, lovely. Dare we hope for the same this week?

Well, as this is being written, the weather forecast looks pretty good for the Market this Saturday, but slightly bumpy in the meantime. Mother Nature has been capricious at best... and incredibly destructive at worst this season in many other areas of the country. Our thoughts are with them; we've been pretty lucky here so far, even with last night's crazy weather.

Today, it's just wet. Saturday? Hopefully 76 and sunny, with just a chance of rain.

PRODUCE: We're hoping this week to see more strawberries to go with the spring staples like asparagus, lettuces, spinach, radishes, kale, chard, green onions, rhubarb, etc. While there's nothing like local asparagus, there's NOTHING like local strawberries. You can also expect plenty of bedding plants, flower & vegetable starts, and cut flowers. There will be frozen meats, eggs, cheeses, farm-produced gelato, and honey as well.

PREPARED FOOD: We expect plenty of baked goods (everything from bread to croissants to cinnamon rolls), hot foods foods suiting herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores, ice cream, kettle corn, and more.

ART & CRAFTS: Woodwork, photography, batik, upcycled clothing, glass, jewelry, and much more will all be represented out at the Market.

COMMUNITY: Community groups represented this week include the Wesley Evening Food Pantry, AWARE, Campus Cooperative Preschool, Central Illininois Mosque and Islamic Center, Amasong, and many others - go visit these groups in their new location between the two main entrances of the Market (between the SW and NW entrances)

PERFORMANCE: We rarely know ahead of time who will come to perform, but you might run into some bluegrass music, some indie music played on a ukelele, some a capella singing, percussion, jazz flute, and more.

ART AT THE MARKET: The Urbana Public Arts Program is bringing its Art at the Market workshops back for another season! Local artists will be out at the Market the last Saturday of each month working with patrons of all ages to be creative. This weekend's artist is Urbana resident Traci Pines, who will be offering up different ways to re-use various items and make them into a variety of things - really cool refrigerator magnets, for example. The workshops are free, no registration is required, and the art-making goes continuously from 8 AM - noon. Look for the tent near the NW entrance to the Market, in the community groups row.

One bit of news related to all farmers markets in Illinois - it looks like SB840, Illinois' Cottage Food Bill, has passed both the Senate and the House and, after a short re-evaluation by the Senate, will go before Governor Quinn for consideration. You can read the text of the bill here. You can read an article about the bill here. The upshot? If Governor Quinn signs the legislation into law, home preparation of non-hazardous baked goods will once again be allowed at farmers markets in Illinois, with some basic restrictions (labeling food as being prepared in a home kitchen, the baker having a food service sanitation certificate, etc). This is a huge victory for entrepreneurs and farmers markets alike. It is expected that, if signed, the legislation will go into effect starting January 1, 2012.

Thanks, as always, for your support of Urbana's Market at the Square. See you out there!

Cool Time

2011-05-19T10:20:00.000-05:00

The weather has not been so delightful (well, not these past few days), but see below for what can be had at our farmers market when the weather is coolish and dampish.

(OK, the strawberries are from way southern IL. But still.)

We'll admit it - it was wet and chilly last weekend. But people still came out - thanks so much for all your support as we struggle with the frequently-iffy weather this spring. The produce offerings this week will look much like what you see above. Add to that our usual selection of frozen meats, eggs, honey, cheese, gelato, baked goods, prepared foods, "foodtruck food", art, crafts, community groups, and performance, and that's your Market for this weekend.

Reminder: Urbana's Market at the Square no longer allows animals at the Market. There are exceptions: service animals are permitted, and animal rescue groups who are registered as a community group for that day may bring their animals to the community groups area, which is in the western row of the Market.

Speaking of community groups and their new home - we have plans for this area. Patrons have mentioned a desire for a seating area, and we're working to provide seating in the western row of the Market by the beginning of June. We'll also be featuring performers in this area as well. Please swing through this weekend and visit with groups such as Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP), Champaign County Forest Preserve, The Coffee Party of Greater C-U , Chambana Moms, Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center (CIMIC), AWARE, and several others.

Two special events are scheduled for this weekend's Market:

Sprouts at the Market's first event of the season will be held between 9-11 this Saturday. It's a seed planting workshop for kids - each participating child will plant a bush bean plant to take home, as well as learn about seeds and the life cycle of fruit and vegetable plants from the great folks at Champaign County Extension's Master Gardeners. The workshop is continuous over the 2-hour period, is free, and no registration is required - look for the Sprouts tent next to the City tent at the NW entrance to the Market. Each participating Sprout will receive a Certificate of Participation which can be used for special offers for participants at Common Ground Food Co-op and Art Mart Toys, both located inside Lincoln Square Mall.
In the event of rain at 9 AM, Sprouts will be canceled. The next date will be June 18.

The C-U Safe Routes to School Project is holding a bike rodeo at the Market. Look for their setup in the parking lot south of the Market, across Illinois Street. They'll be fitting kids for (and selling) bike helmets, teaching kids about bike safety, helping kids through an obstacle course, and more.

Please cross your fingers for a rain-free Market, as the current forecast is calling for, um, a little bit of rain. Bring your rain gear and umbrellas!

Spring to Summer to Spring Again

2011-05-11T16:03:00.003-05:00

As I write this on Wednesday, it feels positively summery outside - the temperature is 83 degrees and the heat index - HEAT INDEX! - is 87 degrees. Second week of May... or first week of July?

These few days of heat and relative dryness are temporary (we should be back into the 60s for highs by the time Saturday's Market arrives), but they're going to move things along pretty quickly on the produce front. You can still expect the usual spring things, like asparagus, spinach, rhubarb, lettuces, some fresh herbs, green onions, kale, chard, radishes, and sprouts. But maybe... just... maybe... we'll see some strawberries from southern Illinois at the Market in enough quantity that people arriving after 7 AM will be able to buy some. Strawberries!

Also, don't forget vegetable and flower plant starts. There will be a huge variety of plant starts available at the Market this weekend - especially tomato, pepper, and other vegetable starts. It's definitely time to get your garden on. Eevn if you don't garden, you can still pick up floral arrangements, hanging baskets, and other greenery at the Market. Add to this the baked goods, the prepared food (Veggie Trails is back this weekend, Fryer Tuck is in the house, the folks from Red Herring will be there, and a new BBQ joint will be joining us), the art and crafts, the community groups, and the performances, and you have a banner second Market of the season.

Speaking of community groups, please swing through and check them out - they're in the new Row One, facing you as you enter either of our main two entrances at the NW or SW ends of the Market. We plan on having special events, performers, and possibly even seating out there as the season progresses - please come by, pay these groups a visit, and help create a true public square atmosphere!

Reminder: Animals, with the exception of service animals, are no longer allowed at Urbana's Market at the Square. Please leave your pet at home when coming to the Market. For more information on this policy please click here. For another explanation from a different source, please check out the News-Gazette's editorial here.

We had a banner week with many patrons using Market Scratch on Saturday - thanks! Market Scratch is just another way to pay at the Market, especially if you run out of cash. Market Scratch credit and debit tokens make excellent gift for the Market-goer in your life, too. Click the link above for more information.

This week: U-Cycle, Urbana's recycling program, will be on hand to answer questions about recycling all kinds of items. Courtney Rushforth, the program's coordinator, will be at the Market from 8 - noon to answer your questions.

Next week: Our first Sprouts at the Market event of the season will be held in partnership with the Illinois Master Gardeners. They'll be teaching kids about seeds and planting from 9 AM - 11 AM.

The 2011 Season Can't Come Fast Enough!

2011-05-04T16:46:00.007-05:00

Man, what an off-season that was! In some ways it doesn't even feel like it's done with us yet... I mean, it'd be great to see the sun for two straight days, wouldn't it? But the rain has brought us big bursts of green.

The photos above were taken last spring, but it's a good representation of what you'll find to eat at the Market this time of year: green stuff. We'll have lots - asparagus is in season now, and it is GLORIOUS; there'll also be plenty of green leaves to choose from, like spinach, lettuce, chard, and kale; there'll be some green onions. We'll also have bedding plants and vegetable starts... and maybe even a few flowers. Vendors like Kleiss Produce, Blue Moon, Moore Family Farm, Meyer Produce, Tomahnous Farm, Cary's Garden of Eatin', Tiny Greens, Owens, Ropp's, and others will be out in force.

It won't all be green. There's a chance we'll have some strawberries from southern IL. Some rhubarb, I'm thinking. There will be, of course, farm-raised eggs and frozen meats and varieties of goat cheese and gelato. There will be baked goods and pastas. There will be FOOD. Finally.

Some important changes this season at the Market:

- Patrons are being asked to leave their pets at home - this includes dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, foxes, and other animals. The overarching reason for this is patron and animal safety - the Market is crowded, and we've experienced some close calls out there over the last three years that could have gone either way. If you bring your pet to the Market after May 7 (we're allowing this Saturday to be a grace day), you will be asked, very nicely, to have someone else watch your pet while you shop. For more information about this policy, please click here.

- Community groups have been relocated to Walnut Street, the street just to the west of the main Market site (for those familiar with the Market, it's the street behind Row One). The area they formerly occupied, the north side of the Market, will now be home to food vendors. Please take a swing by the community groups before you enter the Market - you can't miss 'em if you come in either of the two main entrances.

- Last year we introduced our credit/debit/LINK card acceptance system. It worked so well, we decided to keep it! We've renamed it "Market Scratch" (because our logo's a chicken, get it?) and are trying to get the word out about it. In short, it's another way for patrons to pay. Cash is still king with vendors, and checks are accepted by most, but if you've run out of the former or have forgotten the latter, Market Scratch can help. More information about how it works is here. Please stop by the City tent to ask questions or see it in action.

This weekend we'll have the Urbana Free Library out for a visit, weather permitting. Speaking of, the Market is being featured in their display case near the library's eastern exit. Go by and see! And speaking of weather, click here or here for weather forecasts, and remember: Your umbrella is your friend!

The Market staff is really looking forward to seeing the Market filled with patrons once again. Next week - more information about our Sprouts program and other special programming you can look forward to, another food update, and more!

Final Day

2010-11-05T11:55:00.003-05:00

No, I'm not talking about the Apocalypse - I'm talking about the last day of Urbana's Market at the Square for the 2010 season. Because, wow - it's tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a great time visiting the Market this season. I hope you tried some new-to-you fruits and vegetables. If you have kids who came to a Sprouts at the Market event, I hope they had a great time and learned something. I hope you met up with friends and made new ones. I hope you found out a little more about where your food and flowers come from, about who makes your bread and makes your earrings or takes the photos you love or knits the scarves or makes the soap.

We have lots of things in the planning stages for next year's Market. We're always interested in your feedback - please drop us a line sometime and tell us what you'd like to see. Otherwise, there may be a few postings from time to time here on the blog. Check in every once in awhile and see what we're up to... and thank you so, so much for your support of the Market this season. We'll see you May 7, 2011.

REMINDER: the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market starts next weekend in Lincoln Square Mall - it's like the Market, only indoors and with more of a holiday theme. They go Saturdays, November 13 - December 18, from 8 AM - 1 PM. Please contact the UBA at 217-344-3872 for more information.

Market at the Square/Scare

2010-10-27T09:33:00.003-05:00

Halloween is just about upon us, readers. I imagine that by the time Saturday arrives, many of you (or the youngsters in your life) will be wanting to take that costume out for a test run. May I suggest dressing up for this weekend's Market? From 9 AM - noon, we'll have treats from Common Ground, candy, and possibly some apple cider to celebrate Market at the Scare. Costumes are encouraged. We'll take your photo. Some of the vendors bring candy and cookies to hand out to kids in costumes. And... the weather will be the best we've had on Halloween weekend in recent memory. What's not to like?

Also this weekend: Art at the Market from 8 AM - noon! It's the last installment for the 2010 season. This month we've got local artist Jessica Roberts - she's conducting a "plantable paper-making" workshop that's open to patrons of all ages, and is completely free. Many thanks to Urbana's Public Arts Program for sponsoring these very popular events this season, and we hope to work with them again in 2011.

One other special event this Saturday - we have Professor May Berenbaum of the Entomology Department at the University of Illinois coming in to sign copies of her new book, Honey, I'm Homemade, from 9 AM - 11 AM. We'll have copies of the book for sale for $20, tax included (that's more than a couple bucks off the list price), PLUS Prof. Berenbaum will sign your book! We'll also have information about every honey vendor at the Market this Saturday at Prof. Berenbaum's table. Check 'em out - they may have samples to try and/or cool things to look at. Bees are awesome! Honey is yum! Lay in your winter supply!

One of our growers, Jon Cherniss of Blue Moon Farm, mentioned in a recent email update that it's not about what's in season - it's about what isn't? There's more fresh food available now than ever - make sure you shop all four rows of the Market (yep, 4 - we shrink it down when vendor attendance starts to dip) to see everything that's available. Recommended fruits and vegetables: carrots and other root vegetables (we saw some daikon radishes that were as long as a 4 year-old kid's leg), salad greens, apples, squashes. There may be a few tomatoes straggling in, but with the forecast hard freeze on Thursday night, it's iffy. Fret not - there's also plenty of goat cheese, eggs, and meat to round out those veggie/fruit purchases.

All in all, we couldn't ask for a better weekend for the next-to-last Market of the season. Looking forward to seeing everyone out there!

I Said Orange

2010-10-21T11:30:00.002-05:00

Okay, procrastinators. It's time.

There is no better time than right now to get your Halloween pumpkins for jack-o-lanterning, and there is no better place to procure them than Urbana's Market at the Square. The traditional pumpkins for carving are abundant, but growers also offer more... unusual permutations of pumpkin in all different colors and shapes and sizes. Get a little weird with your decorations this season!

Also, it's worth mentioning that the fall produce is absolutely gorgeous this season. The greens are incredibly lush, the carrots are beyond sweet, the potatoes and sweet potatoes have incredible depth of flavor, the scent of apples on the breeze is incredible...

The weather is not forecast to be very cooperative for this weekend, but I'm going to be an optimist and say that we'll dodge those raindrops. Here's one reason why - our final Sprouts at the Market event is scheduled for this weekend, and we're really excited about it. This event will be co-presented with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank as they close out their annual Food For Families activities, and the goal here is to teach kids ages 3-8 a little about food insecurity in our area and what they can do to help. As with other Sprouts activities, there will be several tables throughout the Market kids can visit, sample locally-grown fruits and vegetables, and learn a thing or two about local food and our food system. We do ask that everyone sign in at the main Sprouts tent, which will be next to the City tent at the northwest entrance to the Market. The event is totally free and goes from 9 AM - 11 AM.

The Market will look different this weekend. As we head toward the close of the season, vendor attendance drops, and we consolidate the Market in order to prevent gaps and to encourage people to shop the whole Market. We did our best to transpose Row 5 vendors into Row 4, but a few are in other places throughout the Market. If you're missing someone PLEASE ASK! Market staff are more than happy to help you locate your favorite vendors.

One more thing - don't forget that the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market picks up on 11/13 where Market at the Square leaves off on 11/6. They'll be open inside Lincoln Square Mall from 8 AM - 1 PM through 12/18. Produce vendors, art and crafts folks, Santa Claus, music, and much more will be featured at this Market - it's so great to know that you'll be able to buy fresh, local food at this Market right up until the holidays.

Market geeks: Get your fill of 2008's and 2009's annual reports here!

Deeper Into Autumn

2010-10-14T11:57:00.005-05:00

Pictured above are scenes from this past weekend's Market. Stuff to look for this weekend, in addition to what you see above - your Halloween jack-o-lantern, carrots of several colors, spinach (so sweet right now), kales, onions, sweet potatoes, squash, apples and pears... it's definitely fall.

I'm strapped for time, today, so I urge you to look at last week's entry to get more information about this weekend's Eat Here booth, and next weekend's Sprouts event (and UHS Orchestra event). On October 30th, we'll be hosting Market at the Scare (costumes encouraged!), the season's final installment of Art at the Market, and a book signing with Professor May Berenbaum of the University of Illinois. Her book is called Honey, I'm Homemade and is all about bees, honey, and cooking with honey. More information about the book signing and other activities forthcoming - it's a really cute book and we're thrilled to be working with the University of Illinois Press on this project.

Market Menu:

Home Stretch

2010-10-07T12:07:00.002-05:00

After 3 seasons as the Market's Boss-Lady, I can safely say that it's the weather that always does it to me. It really stresses me out sometimes. Only occasionally deos the weather do me wrong, like it did last weekend when the heavens opened up while we were getting everything set up and lo, rain cameth down in buckets. At 6:15 AM, it was pouring, it was ridiculous, and all I could do, really, was laugh and hope that the rain left us, which it did (the significantly-less-stressful wind arrived shortly thereafter - another story for another time, perhaps). I have not wept this season.

This weekend, it looks like the weather is going to do me (and, by extension, YOU) right. I know, that's what they said last week, but this time I believe them. 84 unseasonably balmy degrees and sunny this Saturday, Market-lovers. It should be splendid. Soak it up, peeps, because we won't have this weather for too much longer.

So, let's talk about food for a few minutes. As you know, fall is here and the fall food has been in effect for a few weeks now, while summer stubbornly hangs on with its tomatoes and its peppers and its melons and its cucumbers. While all of those things will be findable this weekend, they are most definitely on the wane; fall produce is in firm control now. Notably, that produce includes fennel, broccoli, various cabbages, bok choi, winter squashes, apples, onions, potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes, salad lettuces and other greens, spinach, kales and chard, carrots, and much more. After the heat of this summer and the occasional restrictions that can put on the menu (who turns on the oven when it's 95 degrees outside??), it's going to taste good to get down to the business of preparing pies, tarts, galettes, roasted vegetable dishes, soups, and more. I guarantee you the spread at the Market will serve to inspire. Come look!

As for stuff happening at the Market - this week we have U-Cycle, Urbana's recycling program, out to talk about all things recycling with a little bit of Landscape Recycling thrown in. She'll be there from 8-11:30 at the U-Cycle tent at the northwest entrance to the Market. Also, the University of Illinois' Physics Department (maybe even a couple of Nobel Prize-winners) will be on hand to provide Locally Grown Science. Bring your science questions to them in the Community Groups row between 8 AM and noon.

Next week, it's our final installment of Eat Here, our programming designed to educate consumers about the myriad benefits of shopping your farmers markets for locally-produced foods. Stop by the Eat Here tent, located at the northwest entrance to the Market, on 10/16 for more information.

Sprouts at the Market's last installment is happening 10/23, and is a collaboration between the Market and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Bring your Sprout to the Market that day to participate in a food-insecurity scavenger hunt and to try a few vegetables in season. more information about this event will be available soon, but mark your calenders for 10/23, 9-11 AM!

That same day, the Urbana High School String Orchestras will be playing at the Market, also from 9-11 AM. They'll be playing on Walnut Street, which is the barricaded area located just west of the Market.

The Market's final day is Saturday, November 6. Starting November 13, the Urbana Business Association starts hosting the Holiday Market inside Lincoln Square Mall. The Holiday Market will run from 11/13 - 12/18, 8 AM - 1 PM. Many of Market at the Square's vendors/growers participate in this market, so please check it out!

Lots going on as we close in on the end of our season - come visit while the weather's good and the produce is plentiful!

Ushering in October - Week 23

2010-09-30T09:14:00.003-05:00

Fall's HERE. I see the leaves changing and feel the nip in the air as I ride my bike in inky, chilly darkness to my office on Saturdays and am like, but wait - wasn't it just 92 degrees and life was all nectarines and berries and the first few tomatoes of the season? Weren't we just in the middle of the Sprouts calendar? Didn't we just get our very first batch of new Market shirts and bags? Wasn't I just thinking to myself, "I wish Fall would hurry up and get here"?

We may be wrapping up summer, but we are in no way wrapping up Markets. We have six remaining, including this Saturday's, and there's certainly plenty of in-season food around. When
you're at the Market this weekend, make sure you check out the apple selection; have a close look at all the squash coming in - perfect for soup or baking on one of these cool nights; spinach is back and perfect for salads or sauteeing; tomatoes are still as bountiful as they were weeks ago and work nicely with the fall season foods; the broccoli looks sublime. There's food in all five rows of the Market this weekend, including Tiny Greens and Heavenly Delight's cupcakes in Row 5, Prairie Fruits Farm, O'Rourke Family Gardens (check out their sweet potatoes!), and Mileur Orchard in Row 4; Claybank Farms and the Muffin Man in Row 3; Fryer Tuck, Triple S Farms, Pekara, Omega Farm, Upper Crust, and the Moores' inimitable gourd/squash selection in the row along Illinois Street; and all the produce vendors you've come to know and love in Rows 1 & 2.

This is also the time of year when we have much to offer in the way of handmade art and crafts available at the Market. Just this week we'll have woodwork, cards, bath and bodycare, jewelry, carved gourds, glass items, leatherwork, and textiles represented at the Market. It's definitely not too early to get a jump on things for the holidays, either.

At some point, though, Urbana's Market at the Square has to hang it up for the 2010 season. That final day will be Saturday, November 6. However, fret not! The Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market gets underway inside Lincoln Square Village starting Saturday, November 13, and runs through Saturday, December 18. While these markets are operated by different entities, we do share many vendors - many of the folks you see at Market at the Square will be at the Holiday Market, along with some new faces. Add it to your schedule - it's a great way to keep supporting your local farmers and to get some holiday shopping done as winter approaches.

This week: It's the Urbana Free Library's last weekend out at the Market this season. Stop by, say hello, sign up for a library card, get your favorite child read to, pick up a helium balloon... they're usually on-site by 8:30 or so, and stay until 11 AM.

Also - Urbana Fire Rescue is having their yearly Fire Prevention Week Parade and Truck Muster - the parade starts at 9 AM on Philo Road and ends up on Illinois Street, right by the Market. Traffic will be two-way on two lanes instead of four, and all parking will be accessible. See some trucks! They'll be there until 11 AM.

It's going to be a gorgeous fall day, Market lovers - bring a friend and pay us a visit!

Market - Week 22

2010-09-23T09:54:00.006-05:00

Great Market last weekend - well over 100 kids had a great time at Sprouts at the Market, the weather was fine, the food was out in force, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood, including this gal, who got a carrot "beanie", courtesy of the Family Resiliency Center, for completing the Sprouts activity.

As always, though, the produce stole the show.

I think we can expect a repeat this weekend, at least of the weather and the food being amazing. While we won't have Sprouts, we'll have a Bike Rodeo for kids and Art at the Market for patrons of all ages, and the U of I Physics Department will be in the Community Groups row to talk science with everybody (I plan to ask about wormholes).

I talked a little bit about what's in season this morning on WCIA's Morning show - check it out.

It's dark - DARK! - when I get to work now (I arrive at my office by 5 AM, for those who're wondering). The Harvest Moon was last night. This weekend marks the first Market of Autumn 2010. Things are changing...

... but you still - still! - might be able to nab some peaches this Saturday, if you come early.

How Can It Be?

2010-09-16T08:28:00.002-05:00

Just sitting here wondering where the season went. After this weekend's Market, we've got seven of 'em left for the 2010 season. Seven! While it's been hot, it's been a glorious season, I think, and I'm rooting for temperate weather all the way through November 6, which is our last day. Who's with me?

One thing frequent Market-goers will notice is an uptick in fall displays this week - last week I saw more winter squash, more "Indian" corn, more apples, a huge abundance of peppers, fall potatoes, eucalyptus taking the place of tuberose, etc. Sigh. While there's still summer food, it's being eclipsed by fall food. The apples are particularly interesting to me - I think it might be time for an apple galette one of these cooler nights. Again - who's with me, here? It's my favorite way to eat apples, I think.

This weekend, we'll have our next-to-last Sprouts at the Market event - we partnered with the Family Resiliency Center - they're big on healthy mealtimes for families - for this one, so it should be even better than it usually is! We'll offer in-season produce tasting for the kids, nutrition information for kids & caregivers, access to farmers, and some giveaways while supplies last. Bring your favorite Sprout to the Market this weekend and see if you can get them to "eat a rainbow" - that's the theme for this weekend's event. As always, thanks to Jen Hewitt and her Army of Studying Dietitians for their hard work and support of this event, and to FRC for the major assist. I hope you'll see more of the FRC with Sprouts in the future. Also, chambanamoms.com will be putting in their monthly appearance - make sure you visit their booth, which will be just west of the City tent at the NW entrance to the Market.

Market Menu for those so inclined... otherwise, I'll see you Saturday!

Market #20

2010-09-09T09:19:00.004-05:00

I can see the end of the season from here. Ten Markets ago, it was late June, and eight weeks from now, we'll be having our last hurrah (November 6, for those not in the know). Doesn't seem possible, does it?

But the apples are here in force, so that means fall is on the horizon.

Don't count summer out, though - tomatoes and peppers and summer squash are still in control; there's been sweet corn and there will be more sweet corn; stone fruit is still findable if you know where to look; the pavement at the Market will still heat up when the sun comes out.

This week: Eat Here will be in the house - stop by the EH tent (right next to the City tent) to check out farmer photos, get some information about Eating Here wherever you are, pick up some credit/debit/LINK tokens to spend in the Market, and - extra bonus! - pick up a FREE Eat Here t-shirt or tote bag, while supplies last. Let's keep supporting the local food scene! You can follow along with Eat Here on Facebook.

Next week: Sprouts at the Market! Bring your kids to "eat a rainbow" with the U of I's Family Resiliency Center! More details in our next blog entry, but this one should be a great one...

Labor Day Weekend at the Market

2010-09-02T09:25:00.005-05:00

Yes, we're open for biz this weekend, featuring our regular hours (7 AM-noon, if you're new) and most of the usual suspects. Good thing, too, because the weather this Saturday will be phenomenal. I guess it's fitting, somehow, to have our first real hint of fall on Labor Day weekend, the Unofficial Last Day of Summer.

I can tell we're sliding toward the Equinox when this is what things look like at 6:20 in the morning.

Last weekend was great, everyone. Thanks for coming out and visiting:

This weekend, besides terrific weather and the return of some folks who have been missed (Veggie Trails, Fryer Tuck, and Danville Gardens come immediately to mind), we have the Urbana Free Library in residence, right next to the City tent. I'm sure they'll be bringing their swag and some books and will be signing folks up for library cards and filling balloons with helium for the kids, as they always do the first market of each month. Their staff is terrific and it's an AWESOME library. Stop by and say hello.

Speaking of saying hello, we've noticed a few people "coming out" on Facebook and admitting they've never attended the Market. PLEASE stop by the City tent and say hello if you decide to venture to the Market for the first time - we'd love to meet you! Also, if you're a Market regular with friends and/or family visiting for the holiday weekend, the Market is a terrific place to bring them if you're looking for a way to shop for your holiday provisions and show them a good time at the same time. Again, we love to meet people new to the Market - we're right by the northwest entrance.

Speaking of the City tent, a lot happens there. It's the Market staff's base of operations for the day's events; it's where the City of Urbana promotes the Market and other City events and initiatives; it's where you should come if you're lost (or where you should check if you've lost someone); it's where we sell our Market t-shirts and tote bags; and it's also where you can come and buy credit/debit/LINK tokens using credit/debit and LINK cards. Cash and checks are still accepted by all vendors, of course - this is just another way to pay for your purchases that's accepted by all vendors. Questions? just ask - we're happy to explain how it all works.

See you Saturday!

Corn Party

2010-08-26T14:31:00.003-05:00

We moved to Urbana just after my son turned 4. "Urbana Sweet Corn Festival" was too long for him to say successfully, so he called it "the Corn Party" instead. And lo - the name has stuck.

It's not just the Festival - though we certainly hope to see you there, enjoying the sweetcorn, taking in the festivities, and staying for Soul Asylum, who hit the main stage around 9 PM - the concept of "corn party" is about this time of the growing season. It's definitely a corn party.

I mean, look at these people! These patrons are extremely focused on corn! This is how you know it's peak season, the apex of the Market year, the part of the season all of us really wait for, much as we love strawberries and asparagus, the apples and the squash. It's really the tomatoes, the peaches, and the corn - Market royalty.

Dig in. Enjoy. Preserve, if you can. Though it's been hot this summer, and fall will be welcome on so many levels, you're going to miss this stuff when it's gone. 10 Markets remain after this weekend.

Speaking of, the Market is full, full, full. Arts and crafts will be incredible - it seems everyone's coming out with their best woodwork, their most gorgeous painted silk, their most excellent repurposed fiber items, their prettiest quilts, their best handmade jewelry, their finest soaps and bodycare items, the best photos of the bunch, etc. While we will be missing Veggie Trails and Fryer Tuck this weekend (both should be back September 4), there are plenty of baked goods to keep your energy up while you shop all five rows of the Market. If you don't see it, ASK US! We're at the City tent, at the northwest corner of the Market.

Special event: Art at the Market is on deck this weekend, with local artist Justine Bursoni leading a natural paints/painting workshop. All paints are tinted using fruits and vegetables. The workshop is open to patrons of all ages and is completely free. Thanks to Urbana's Public Arts Program for putting this, and all AatM workshops, together.

Here's this week's Market Menu:

See you out there!

This Week's Market - CORNY!

2010-08-19T10:38:00.003-05:00

Last week's Market ended up being so amazingly busy (thank you, thank you, thank you!) that I didnthave much of a chance to take photos.

[OK, I didn't have any chance - I took no photos. The one above? We'll call it August MATS stock.]

I did, however, notice the light hitting the melons just so, and the way the tomatoes looked like piles of jewels on their tables, and how the eggplant (so many different kinds of eggplant!) glistened, purple/black or white or lavender, and the peaches and nectaries, so orangey-red and begging to be cobblered... I noticed all of that, but didn't capture it. You'll have to come out this weekend and see all of it for yourself.

There's a lot going on this weekend at the Market. The U of I folks are back - welcome, students, faculty, and staff! I know it might be hard to roll outta bed on Saturday mornings, but the Market is one of the best places to be on the weekend. Peoplewatching and fresh-baked goods aside, it's a great place to pick up some of your fresh fruit and vegetable needs for the week - and they're all grown here in Illinois. I think you'll find we have some of the finest food grown anywhere. Time to stock yr fridges!

Other stuff to check out:

- This weekend's special event is Sprouts at the Market, where kids ages 3-8 (younger kids are welcome to participate, though the activities are not geared toward super-young children) learn about farms and food and nutrition. The theme for August is corn - we grow a lot of it here, the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival is coming up next weekend, and it's in just about everything. Kids will have the chance to taste corn in several of its many forms, learn about what makes corn so good to eat, inspect corn plants from tassel to root, and have the chance to ask participating corn growers any questions they may have about, well, corn.

The event, which is from 9-11, is free and open to all kids and their caregivers. Registration is at the City tent, located at the NW entrance to the Market site, or you can register at any of the satellite tables within the Market. Everyone visiting all the stations will receive a Certificate of Participation, which is good for 15% any purchase at Art Mart Toys through the end of the day.

- Additionally, we're hosting a Bloodmobile from Community Blood Services of Illinois out at the Market - if you're interested in participating in this blood drive, the Bloodmobile will be on walnut Street (the blocked-off area of just west of the Market) from 7:30 until noon.

- As if that weren't enough, several animal rescue groups will be out at the Market this weekend in our Community Group Row, raising awareness about their activities. Everything from greyhounds to birds will be represented - check them out!

- Last (but certainly not least), I expect Urbana's Fire Rescue to be out with one of their trucks, asking patrons to help "fill the boot" for MDA. They'll be in the Walnut Street area as well.

Here's a Market Menu for you - check out the Market merch, which is also for sale at Common Ground Food Co-op:

See you out there!

National Farmers Market Week 2010

2010-08-12T14:30:00.005-05:00

It was a great weekend at the Market - further reinforcing my belief that EVERY week should be Farmers Market Week. It's so important to the community on so many levels.

This week: Eat Here information will be at the City tent this week - come check out photos of your favorite farmers in action, get some info about why Eating Here is so important, find out how to shop for and store produce (especially helpful if you're on a budget), and more!

Next week: Sprouts at the Market!

Every Week is Farmers Market Week

2010-08-06T10:00:00.004-05:00

But this week is officially Farmers Market Week all over the USA.

Come take photos at the Market this weekend - the weather's going to be fabulous - because we want to know...

... how do you see the Market? What are your favorite parts? Do you come early or late? Are you into people-watching? What do you notice? What kind of role does the Market play in your communities - in C-U, in your family, in your circle of friends? Send any photos you're OK with being posted on the internet to me at ljbralts@urbanaillinois.us, and I'll include them in a wrapup of our Farmers Market Week.

Somber Market

2010-07-29T11:01:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week we received the news that Daniel Schreiber - chocolate-maker-in-chief, proprietor of local artisanal chocolate outfit Flatlander Chocolate, and Market vendor - passed away suddenly Tuesday morning at the age of 24.

Daniel's amazing energy and his passion for local food - well, all things local, really, but especially food - have been an inspiration to many, including me.

About a year ago, a mutual friend introduced us during an Art at the Market event. Dan had just tried his hand at making his own chocolate from the cacao bean and was passing it out to people at the Market. The chocolate was wrapped in foil and construction paper, and after trying mine I thought, this guy is onto something.

"If you ever decide to do this for real, you should totally sell it at the Market," I told him.

"Do you think people would go for it?" he asked.

"Oh, HECK YES," I said.

Daniel was always a huge supporter of the Market and its farmers, even before he began selling at the Market during the 2010 season; he was at the Market almost every weekend, picking up produce and other groceries. Once he started selling, he learned very quickly how to improve his display to engage potential customers and was very good at talking with them about what he did and how he did it. Last weekend, he had a LINE - not only was he educating shoppers about how he made chocolate, he was selling a new product, a chocolate-hazelnut spread/sauce called "Artella" or "UrbanaTella". He was working with other farmers on "inclusions" for his chocolate - currants from Prairie Fruits Farm, for example. I'm sure there were others in the works. He was in the process of really arriving. He was full of ideas and vigor and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Daniel's space at the Market, in Row 4, toward the north end between Great Harvest Bread Co. and Prairie Fruits Farm, will remain empty for the remainder of the season, except for the occasional musician (he loved the music at the Market). This Saturday, we encourage Flatlander fans and friends to leave flowers, notes, and other remembrances at the space.

Lucky Week Thirteen

2010-07-22T09:28:00.005-05:00

Peak produce season is here with a gorgeous, colorful vengeance.

The list is too long to post, but let it be said that unless it's an early-season item (like strawberries or asparagus) or a late-season item (like butternut squash), it's at the Market, and it's AWESOME. I will say that I haven't seen much on the melon front yet - a few central IL cantaloupes were around last weekend, but that could change this weekend.

Also, with luck, the Owenses (they do the flowers at the north end of Row 2) will have some tuberose, whose scent mixed with the smell of ripe cantaloupe totally epitomizes summer Market mornings for me.

Seriously, you guys, we are so lucky to have such beautiful food and flowers grown right here, in our midst. SO. LUCKY.

Also at the Market this weekend - we're sold out for vendors, so look for an abundance of awesome handmade art and craft items this weekend too - photography, glassware, textiles, wood items, jewelry, leather goods, etc. Baked goods and prepared foods (including the much-loved Veggie Trails folks, who were absent last week) will also be there to quell your hunger pangs (I know I couldn't make it through the morning without getting a few little tasty morsels from around the Market). I'm also pretty sure we'll have a host of performers busking and entertaining Market-goers.

We have our third Sprouts at the Market event this weekend - kids ages 3-8 will get to "eat their colors" all over the Market, and probably get to meet some farmers in the process, too. If you have questions about the event, stop by the Sprouts tent (next to the City tent) and we can help you out. Many thanks to the farmers for their produce donations. Their future customers appreciate it!

Don't forget - we have Market shirts in men's and women's sizes (American Apparel shirts, so they're sized to fit), and, with luck, we'll be restocked on our heavy-duty recycled canvas Market tote bags. Shirts are a mere $9 and the bags are a steal at $8. We'll have them on display at the City tent.

Oh - here's this week's Market Menu - I show the merch off here:

See you out there!

Market - Week TWELVE?!

2010-07-15T16:17:00.003-05:00

Market this weekend, quick-and-dirty style:

Warm, sunny, full of food, best people watching in downstate Illinois, Market shirts and totes for sale ($9 and $8, respectively), arts and crafts, performers, Kettle Korn... where else could possibly be a finer place to hang on a Saturday morning?

Pictures Tell the Story

2010-07-08T14:51:00.003-05:00

PEACHES. Yummy, yummy peaches.

Glad for glads.

These cute little "pears" are actually made of goat cheese.

Fresh tomatoes draw quite the crowd.

Fresh basil, my personal fave herb. What's yours?

Here's a Market Menu for ya:

This weekend's weather promises to be lovely - we'll see you out there!

Seriously

2010-07-02T10:29:00.003-05:00

I cannot get a break these days! Someday i'll be a better, and more timely, updater.

Here's this week's Market Menu, back after a short hiatus.

In this video, I try to tell you guys everything you need to know, but in case you can't view it... produce of all kinds in large amounts, sunshine, groovy market t-shirts and tote bags, Urbana Free Library out for the kids (and grownups!), and an all-around great day. If you have guests in for the weekend, the Market is a fabulous way to show off how awesome east Central Illinois can be in the summertime. We're open from 7-noon, too, so even if everyone rolls out of bed a little late, it's no big deal. You can have breakfast at the Market, too.

Stop by, say hi!

Still Hot, Still Busy

2010-06-23T10:35:00.003-05:00

What a great Market last weekend! It was hot, and a little bit crazy, but the mood was good and the food was plentiful. There will be more heat and sun this weekend, so prepare yourselves. The summer produce is moving right along despite the rain - when it alternates with sun and heat, it'll grow like gangbusters. Our problem last year was that it just rained and never really warmed up - not so much this year. The jewels of the season will be with us soon - sweet corn, tomatoes, and peaches. Setting them off will be be the green things - beans, cucumbers, zucchini, etc. O, 'tis glorious!

Some housekeeping - in the interest of getting you shoppers more involved with the vendors that supply you with... everything, I've added some links to the sidebar and will add more as I get them. Please check out these folks' sites, especially if you've never visited them at the Market. You might find some new favorites. I also recommend searching for your favorite vendors on Facebook, if you hang out on Facebook. Maybe at some point i'll create a separate list for Facebook links.

I heard, recently, that I don't write about the baked goods scene at the Market nearly enough.

Ack! I certainly didn't mean to leave anyone out. The baked goods, after the farm-grown produce, are a major attractor at the Market, probably because a) these are food items you can eat right away - no washing needed and b) in many cases, you can't get these TOTAL TREATS anywhere else. The Market works with Amish bakers, gluten-free bakers, bakers with croissants, bakers with English muffins, bakers with cinnamon rolls as big as your head, bakers with baguettes and boules... you get the idea. Do yourself a favor this weekend and grab something carby at the Market!

Here's this week's Market Menu. Sorry about the squinting.

See you out there!

Week Eight at the Market

2010-06-17T12:59:00.003-05:00

The Market Menu video is taking a break this week. Hopefully we'll be back in business next week.

Things are shaping up nicely for the Market this weekend - while there's a chance of rain, the chances are MUCH higher that it'll be hot and sunny, just like last weekend. I tend to look at the weather forecast and not get too bothered by any mention of rain these days. A little rain never hurt anyone, you know what I mean?

So, produce. Things are happening with produce thanks to the heat and the rain - Market vendors are offering summer stuff now, like zucchini, cucumbers, raspberries and cherries, blueberries, salad greens (though the lettuces and spinach dislike the heat, so these foods might be limited), peas, peaches and apricots, currants, green beans, green onions, etc. There may be a tomato or two, but expect more next week if the heat keeps up. Yum!

Just a reminder, too, that the Market has several meat producers offering up the very best in farm-raised meats of all kinds. Please check out these vendors and, if you're curious about how the animals are raised - ask them about it! Growers love to talk about their farms. Same goes for eggs and cheese and honey - talk to your producer about how they steward their beasts. It's fascinating stuff and helps eaters see why Eating Here is so important.

Need I mention all the wonderful baked goods and prepared foods? Shop all five rows for all kinds of food, y'all. It's everywhere in the Market.

Come for the food, stay for the art - the Market's many local artisans will have something for the dad in your life.

And the kids! bring the kids! This weekend's we're offering up the second Sprouts at the Market event for the season. This event is about defining all those words we hear at the Market and when people talk about food - local, organic, seasonal. What do these words mean? How can kids Eat Here? More importantly, what is there to eat? The event starts at 9 and runs to 11 AM. Kids can start at any Sprouts table within the Market - there are five in all, including the tent at the NW entrance to the Market - and kids who finish the activity will get a Certificate of Participation, which they can use for a 15% discount at Art Mart Toys until 2 PM Saturday. Awesome! Here's a partial list of participating growers: Tomahnous Farm, Moore Family Farm, Tiny Greens, Omega Farm, Blue Moon Farm, Prairie Fruits Farm... many thanks to all the growers who have supported the programming over the last few seasons!

That's it for now - see everyone out at the Market. EVERYONE! :)

Whooooosh

2010-06-10T11:04:00.003-05:00

OK, this week has ALSO gone by incredibly quickly! I'll have to be quick.

Here's this week's Market Menu:

A little bird from deep southern IL told me that Mileur Orchard will be at the Market this weekend with a very limited supply of early peaches and apricots. There may be other stone fruits sneaking into the Market from other vendors, too - who knows? Just get there early. Another little bird told me that there will be lots of snap peas and broccoli - maybe look at Kleiss Produce and Blue Moon Farm. There are still going to be strawberries in Row 1 and Row 4. Greenhouse produce is abounding - zucchini, cucumbers, maybe even some tomatoes to go with the hydroponic tomatoes the folks at Three-D have been bringing for weeks now. And, of course, the usual array of farm-raised products (eggs, cheese, meats), baked and prepared foods, and handmade art/craft items will be in full effect.

This weekend we'll also be hosting the first-ever RECYCLIMPICS! The Market has partnered with U-Cycle, the City of Urbana's recycling program, to create an event that has fun activities for kids that get them moving and also teach them about recycling. Look for the event on Walnut Street, which is the barricaded area just to the west of the Market site.

Eat Here will also have a tent just next to the Market tent. Look for some photos of farms that supply the food sold at the Market, and pick up some information about why including the Market as one of your weekly grocery stops is tasty, fun, and a huge boost to the local economy. Look for our swanky new banners at the east and southern entrances to the Lincoln Square parking lot, too!

That should do it for now - remember, the City's new webpage for the Market is here - I hope to be adding much more to it in the coming days.

See you out there!

It's That Time Again

2010-06-03T10:32:00.003-05:00

Meaning... it's Thursday and my to-do list for this weekend's Market is as long as my arm. It's been a short week for me anyway, so I'm going to post the Market Menu clip and probably be done with the blog for this week. Sorry about that!

Oh - a couple things, though. One: Last weekend's attendance unofficially broke an unofficial record - we had the highest number of attendees ever this early in the season. I have to think the fabulous weather for growing food and the ensuing bounty is a major reason for this. Thanks, farmers, and thanks, Mother Nature. Two: Urbana's Public Arts Coordinator Anna Hochhalter tells me about 250 people participated in last weekend's Art at the Market event - thanks so much for participating at these events while you're at the Market - it definitely adds to the fun, friendly, and SOCIAL vibe that is crucial to any event's success.

Another Quick One, Sheesh

2010-05-27T09:31:00.004-05:00

Very busy week for Urbana's Market at the Square once again (I think they're all going to be this way), so brevity is in order.

How about we start with Market Menu? OK.

Oh! And the City of Urbana has a new website, which means the Market does, too. Much more content will be added as time allows. Please add it to your bookmarks!

As for the Market: plenty of fresh produce this week - asparagus is about done (I know, already???), but the strawberry thing is MEGA this season. If you're wondering what the heck to do with all the strawberries you just bought, Mark Bittman of the NYT has a few ideas. There'll also be plenty of green things - salad fixings, green onions, fresh cut herbs (including cilantro, parsley, and other culinary herbs), kohlrabi, kales, chards, etc. Look for some greenhouse produce, too - cucumbers, zucchini, and hydroponic tomatoes will all be available at the Market this weekend. Basically, there's a lot that could figure into your holiday weekend eating, if you count all the farm-raised meats for the grill, the baked goods, etc. YUM!

Mustn't forget to mention that this weekend, which is looking sold out to vendors as of this writing, will also showcase the handmade work of many artisans, including Jerry Rhoads Woodturning, Cousins Dog Biscuit Company, Manrique Photography, Juniper Moon, South Prairie Street Farm, and many others. Look for updated links in the sidebar coming soon.

Finally - the first Art at the Square event of the season is happening this Saturday at the Market. Look for the Urbana Public Arts Program's tent adjacent to the City tent - this year's theme is "Art & the Environment", and Saturday's project will be a collaborative collage, creating a prairie landscape and wildlife scene using materials such as crepe paper, oil pastels, watercolor, and other media. The workshop is continuous from 8 AM - noon, and is free and open to the public.

See you there - and thanks for your continued support of your local farmers markets. Supporting the local producers strengthens our local food system, which is becoming more and more crucial of a component to future sustainability in communities. THANK YOU.

Just a Quick One

2010-05-20T08:25:00.002-05:00

Busy week here at Market HQ, so I'm keeping this one short:

Sprouts at the Market this weekend - 9-11 AM, free, no registration required, open to all kids ages 3-8. Sprouts has its own blog - check there for details!

Lots of produce and plants this weekend - now is the time to get tomatoes into the ground if you're planning on growing some this season, and the Market has several vendors who can help you out. Strawberries and asparagus still reign supreme, but there are a lot of salad greens, kales, chards, green onions, radishes, and other vegetables to balance things out. Fresh herbs, too. Baked goods and prepared foods will abound as well, including the first appearance this year of the Moo Mobile from the Sidney Dairy Barn.

Arts and crafts will also be heavily represented this weekend - textiles, woodwork, jewelry, candles, photography, leatherwork, glass, and other handcrafted items will be for sale.

We're still working out the kinks in the credit/debit/LINK tokens service - we ran out of credit/debit tokens last weekend! We'll be better prepared this weekend - thanks for your patience. Just a reminder - cash and checks are still welcome by all vendors, and some do take credit cards on their own. if you have any questions about how the credit/debit/LINK service works, please come visit us at the City tent out at the Market, or call 384-2319.

Finally, the weather forecast looks pretty darn awesome. Hope to see you there!

This Week's Market Menu

2010-05-19T16:31:00.001-05:00

Here ya go.

Sprout It Out!

2010-05-16T13:18:00.002-05:00

First Sprouts event is next week, y'all. I love summer.

Bring your favorite Sprout age 3-8 to the Market on Saturday, May 22, for a seed-planting workshop facilitated by Champaign County Extension's Master Gardeners and Market grower Tiny Greens.

Kids will get a chance to get their hands dirty and learn about how their food gets started during this workshop - the Master Gardeners will provide instruction and simple handouts, while Tiny Greens and Urbana's Market at the Square will supply the materials for the planting. The workshop is free of charge, open to kids ages 3-8, and will run continuously from 9 AM to 11 AM. Each Sprout will receive a certificate of participation and will take a future seedling home, with instructions for its care and planting.

Special bonus: All kids showing a certificate of participation at Art Mart Toys get 15% off any purchase in the toy store! Offer good only on 5/22 and only until 2 PM. Thanks, Art Mart Toys!

For more info, please call 384-2319, or visit the Sprouts blog:

http://www.sproutsurbana.wordpress.com

You can find the Master Gardeners here:

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/champaign/mg/index.html

You can find Tiny Greens here:

http://www.tinygreens.org

Strawberry Season

2010-05-13T14:47:00.003-05:00

So busy prepping for this weekend's Market (something about a great weather forecast just makes me go crazy with the busy.. or busy with the crazy... I don't know...) that this entry will have to be short.

A few links, first, to get you in the mood:

Illinois Farm to School would like you to take a survey

President Obama's task force report on solving childhood obesity is out - one recommendation, which would be good for all os us, would be grow more fruits and vegetables in the US (PDF)

Great article about keeping the farmers in farmers markets

This week's produce will include a bunch more strawberries than in the previous two weeks - just follow your nose into the Market. By my calculations, there will be berries in the first four rows, and Veggie Trails and Tiny Greens (among many fabulous others) are in Row 5, so make sure you give the whole place the once-over to make sure you're not missing anything. Other yummy food in season includes lettuce mixes and head lettuces, spinach, radishes, rainbow chard, fresh cut herbs, green onions, asparagus (still going incredibly strong), celery, etc. There will be many vegetable and herb starts, plus flowers (hanging baskets and bouquets). The farm-raised meats, cheeses, eggs, and honey are all widely available - grassfed, grain fed, pastured poultry and pork, whatever - TALK TO YOUR GROWER. They can give you the straight dope on how what they do is done.

LINK/credit/debit cards as payment is totally happening at the Market this weekend and every weekend. See last week's entry for more info about how it works. We'll also have a brochure at the City tent that describes how it works with LINK, and your friendly Market staffer will be happy to answer any and all questions you may have. Thanks for your early support of this program - it's great to have options!

Next week - Sprouts at the Market returns with a seed starting workshop co-sponsored by Market vendor Tiny Greens and Champaign County Extension's Master Gardeners. more info next week, or you can check the blog or Facebook page.

Gotta bounce - see you Saturday!

Market Menu, Week 3

2010-05-12T08:41:00.002-05:00

More verbage later this week, but here's the latest "Market Menu", wherein the May 15 Market is discussed:

EBT.... Easy as 1-2-3

2010-05-07T06:29:00.004-05:00

I don't know about this passage of time thing. All of a sudden it's Friday and the Market is tomorrow and blog has been neglected for the week. This week's entry is important, if only to tell you about how our new EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) and credit/debit system will work at the Market.

But first - how about some video? We shoot "Market Menu" every Tuesday and it's on the internets by Wednesday. I'll try to remember to post it here when it gets released - I do usually remember to put it on Facebook by Wednesday. Here it is. I was ill-prepared for filming, but I do manage to impart some information:

Many thanks to Jason Liggett of Urbana Public Television (UPTV) for taking the time to film and edit these pieces each week.

So - on to the subject at hand. First, let me ask a few questions:

- Ever run out of cash at the Market and didn't feel like hiking to the nearest cash machine?
- Ever wanted to use your LINK card and were disappointed to find out you couldn't use it to buy fresh produce at the Market?
- Ever find a work of art or a bunch of produce you wanted to purchase using your credit card, only to find out you couldn't?

Those days are over! With this new credit/debit/LINK system we're debuting tomorrow, you'll be able to do all of those things at the Market without leaving the Market. Here's how the system works:

Patrons wanting to use their credit/debit/LINK cards stop by the City tent at the NW corner of the Market to get their card swiped through our brand new wireless terminal.
City staff swipes your card through said terminal. PIN is entered, if necessary, and then the desired dollar amount is entered. Credit and debit purchases will carry a $1.00 convenience charge added on to your requested amount, but LINK purchases will never carry a fee.
After your transaction is approved, City staff will disburse the amount you requested not in cash, but in cool wooden tokens. Tokens printed in orange are for credit/debit purchases at any vendor in the Market; the LINK tokens - printed in green - are good for LINK-eligible foods by the vendors who sell those foods. There'll be signs at each vendor booth - look for them.

Here's what the tokens look like:

If you have questions or want to try it out, stop by the City tent while you're at the Market and we can show you how it works. Be gentle on us as we get this system going - the technology is new to us! Despite our nervousness about the technology, the Cityand Market staff are VERY EXCITED to be able to provide this service to patrons - and to vendors.

This week: Asparagus, strawberries (you heard me), lettuces, spinach, mixed greens, green onions, radishes, rapini, rhubarb, and other early-season produce, plus meats, cheeses, eggs, honey, and a metric ton of vegetable, herb, and other plant starts, as is usually the case around Mother's Day.

Next week: We hope to be able to start having information about the concept of Eating Here

available at the Market. Banners, TV, and radio ads will all be extolling the virtues of Eating Here - buying Illinois-grown fruits and vegetables from the people who grow them. It's good for you, it's good for them, it keep money in our local area and promotes good community vibes. Stay tuned.May 22: Looks like Champaign County Extension's Master Gardeners, along with Market vendor Tiny Greens, will be partnering with the Market for the first Sprouts at the Market event of the season. More info in next week's entry!

Holy Asparagus!

2010-04-28T20:48:00.003-05:00

Good grief - how did it get to be so close to the Market season with nary a blog entry? Must have been too busy putting the 2010 season together - I apologize.

So - what's happening? SO MUCH IS HAPPENING. Our 2010 season is launching this Saturday, May 1, at 7 AM in the usual spot (corner of Illinois and Vine Streets). Yes, the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon is being run that day - and the Market is on, RUN OR SHINE. We even made a poster about it.

The race gets underway at 7:30, and while much of the course is in Urbana and there will be street closings, traffic will be pulsed across the race course whenever there are openings. Officials estimate the majority of the race traffic will be through downtown Urbana by 9:30 - 10 AM. Have a look at the course maps and the beltway map and plot out your route! No matter if you're driving, walking, riding a bike or a Segway or whatever - please be patient as you try to get around town on Saturday. The Market will be worth your wait, because...

... the asparagus is going to be amazing. The weather this spring has been great for growing things - a couple of blasts of extreme (for April) warmth + timely rains = much ready in the way of produce on May 1. In addition to beautiful, gorgeous asparagus, there will be a plethora of salad mixes and lettuces and other greens, green onions, a bit of rhubarb, rainbow chard, radishes, rapini and kale, and maybe some rhubarb and a few other goodies if you're good. We'll have a couple of new meat vendors this season, but I can tell you for sure that Moore Family Farm will have grassfed lamb and beef steaks at the Market this Saturday - considerably earlier in the season than folks might expect. Plenty of other meats, eggs, honey, and several kinds of goat cheeses will round out the farm-raised stuff.

(Intrigued by all the produce but flummoxed by the idea of doing something with it? I highly recommend this cookbook - it's gotten me through some dicey produce times)

Prepared foods will include lots of baked goods - most of the folks you've gotten used to seeing in seasons past will be out there. One notable exception is Stewart Pequignot, the gent who was responsible for some of the best bagels to grace C-U (along with other great breads). Stewart's fine, but due to time and other constraints, he's no longer selling at the Market. We will miss him so.

:: moment of silence ::

We'll also have a brand new gluten-free baker - the Baking Bakers - and word on the street is that their stuff is EXCELLENT. Go visit them on Facebook, why don't ya? At the Market, they'll be in Row 5 (the row closest to Vine Street) next to local sprout purveyors Tiny Greens.

If you're interested in locally-made bean-to-bar chocolate, Flatlander Chocolate is your guy. If you need something hot to eat and you're a vegetarian, look for Veggie Trails at the south end of Row 5 - he'll have everything you need, from breakfast burritos to chili. If you're looking for plants and flowers, you'll have many to choose from (including vegetable starts). Want some wearable art? How about some non-wearable art? You'll find both at the Market. On May 1. Which is, as of this writing, IN TWO DAYS.

This will do for now. We want to see you out there May 1!

:: Looking ahead - the May 8 Market is already looking to break some kind of record for vendor attendance - stay tuned. May 8 will also be the day we debut our new credit/debit and LINK machine - as of that day, you'll be able to use plastic (well, Market tokens in lieu of plastic) in addition to cash and checks to pay for your Market goodies. Questions about this or any of the Market's other initiatives? Drop me a line or call 217-384-2319. ::

It Lives!

2010-02-09T08:49:00.006-06:00

Greetings, Market lovers! It's definitely been too long. The Market is a mere 81 days away from its 2010 season, however, so it's time to dust things off and tell you guys what we've been up to in the off-season.

Have you missed us?

Cross your fingers for a decent spring and an abundance of strawberries, asparagus, spinach, greens, rhubarb...

ITEMS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE:

We've begun a strategic planning initiative for the Market. This process is going to take place throughout the spring, and will provide several opportunities for the public to comment, strategize, vision, and basically help create a roadmap to help the City a)best manage the Market's incredible growth of recent years and b) look ahead to the future of the Market and what it could be. Do you have some crazy, hare-brained scheme for the Market that just might work? Bring it to Public Input Session #1! We want to hear from you.

If you're interested in Market at the Square stats and minutiae, you might enjoy reading the 2009 report, just delivered to Urbana's City Council last night (warning: it's a large PDF). Video will be up of the Council meeting sometime in the next day or two, if you're interested in the presentation of the report and Council Q&A - just check here.

I'm sure you've heard that the 2nd Annual Illinois Marathon is being run on Saturday, May 1. That also happens to be the date we open the Market - run or shine. While part of the race will be run in Urbana, don't let that deter you from coming to the Market - we'll have plenty of signage and people directing traffic to make sure Market patrons get to where they need to go in as timely a fashion as possible.

We'll accept LINK cards (as well as credit and debit cards) at the Market this season. How will you guys do that, you ask? People wishing to use any of the aforementioned methods to pay for something within the Market (from a participating vendor) bring their card to the City booth, swipe it, tell the Market staff how much they'd like taken off their card, and then receive that amount in Market tokens, which are then used same as cash (rules surrounding the use of LINK cards still stand for tokens). Vendors "redeem" the tokens with City staff and are reimbursed the following week. We're still working out the details, but this option should be available at the Market when we start on May 1.

Eat Here gets underway in May. This is programming designed to encourage people to re-think their grocery shopping habits and to consider the Market as a source for Illinois-grown fresh fruits and vegetables when they're in season. Look for much more about this program in the near future.

How many Sprouts events will we have this season? That's right, SIX. More details coming soon. Sprouts has its own Twitter feed and its own Facebook fan page, if you're into that sort of thing. There's also a blog. I promise these places will be active closer to the season opener.

Sound ambitious? Believe it or not, there's more, but I'll give it a rest for now. Or, uh, give myself a rest.

Public input! February 23! Urbana Civic Center! We need you! Be there!

The Work Never Stops

2009-12-16T09:51:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone's enjoying the decidedly wintry season - and I also hope you've been able to make it to the Holiday Market in Lincoln Square Village in Urbana, because there are still plenty of local producers to support. Better get out there, though - this coming weekend is the final Holiday Market of 2009. Then it's time for a long winter's nap. Or something.

The goats of Prairie Fruits Farm - one of our many popular vendors during the Market season - have been, um, busy in the offseason. Most of the does are pregnant, and they'll deliver their kids in March, April, and May. Hey, goat ladies - how ya doin'?

For those of you interested in such things, our very own Sprouts at the Market has its own Facebook page and Twitter feed.

We're working on some amazing projects for the 2010 season - I'll tell more as soon as details get firmed up.

The Market opens in 135 days!

Thank You

2009-11-16T08:35:00.003-06:00

Thanks so much to everyone for a fantastic season - we're already looking forward to 2010.

Closing Time

2009-11-05T11:19:00.004-06:00

The last 27 weeks have flown by and now we find ourselves at the end of the outdoor Market season - with, of course, the nicest weather we've seen in weeks on deck for this Saturday. We hope to see thousands - yes, thousands! - of people out and about for the last Market at the Square on November 7, soaking up the sun and buying lots of food.

The Market will be small this week - we can now fit everyone into three rows. Small is beautiful, though, and the vast majority of our produce vendors will be out in force to offer you the goods:

apples, cilantro, celeriac, leeks, onions, heirloom potatoes, tomatoes (?), fresh carrots, chard, cabbages, lettuces and salad mixes, spinach, green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, squashes (including pumpkins) — also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more

You can also get a head start on some of your holiday shopping by patronizing the booths of our artisans out at the Market this weekend. If there's a Market geek in your midst, consider swinging by the City tent and picking up a limited edition Market poster for the low, low price of two bucks! They frame nicely and make wonderful gifts.

We'll be posting once a week during the off-season, so don't take us off your list.

Well, not until May 1, 2010 at 7 AM, that is.

****REMINDER: Many of the Market's vendors will be selling indoors at the Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market, which gets underway Saturday, November 14 at 8 AM inside Lincoln Square Mall. The Holiday Market will run through Saturday, December 19.
Yep - after this weekend, there will be no more tents in Lot 10X at Lincoln Square. ****

Week 27: Spooky Halloween!

2009-10-28T15:16:00.003-05:00

Halloween just so happens to fall directly on a Market day this season, so... take your costumes out on a test run this weekend at Market at the Scare!! We'll have treats baked by Common Ground Food Co-op, some chocolate loveliness, apple cider, and maybe some trick-or-treat action at some of the vendor booths - all while supplies last, starting at 9 AM.

There's still plenty of food at the Market. To wit:

apples, arugula, fennel, fresh herbs, leeks, onions, heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots, lettuces and salad mixes, spinach, green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, sweet potatoes, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, radishes, kohlrabi, turnips, kale, squashes (including pumpkins) - also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more

Next week's Market is our last for the 2009 season. The Urbana Business Association's Holiday Market, featuring many of the same vendors and several new ones, too, gets underway inside Lincoln Square on November 14 at 8 AM.

Market at the Square, Week 26: Pumpkins & Sprouts

2009-10-22T10:41:00.003-05:00

First, let us gaze upom the awesome weirdness that is CELERIAC, also known as CELERY ROOT (and known to me as "that vegetable that looks like it's something from the Herbology classes in Harry Potter"):

Celeriac, besides being visually fascinating, is a wonderfully-flavored root vegetable that can be totally delicious raw or (my fave) roasted with other roots. These fine specimens were spotted at Tomahnous Farm's booth, at the south end of the Market's row 2.

OF NOTE THIS WEEKEND:

Sprouts at the Market - final event for 2009 is a healthy trick-or-treat!

Yep - one last Sprouts event before we close Market at the Square for the season on November 7, and this one is always fun:

1. Sprout arrives and checks in at one of the Sprouts stations throughout the Market (or at Sprouts HQ at the NW Market entrance).
2. Sprout receives free tote bag for treat-hauling purposes.
3. Sprout goes to other Sprouts stations to learn about fall/winter foods, sample them (or food made from them). '
4. Sprout takes away a few souvenirs and gets a Certificate of Participation.
5. Sprout's grown-up takes a short survey.

Sprouts gets started at 9 AM and runs through 11 AM. Please call 217-384-2319 for more information.

Pumpkins:

Bob Kleiss is having a pumpkin sale this weekend - if you haven't yet gotten your jack-o'lantern for this year's Halloween, this weekend's the perfect time. Bob will have a huge selection of pumpkins large and small to choose from at really excellent prices. Don't miss it - their pumpkin truck is right at the NW entrance to the Market, in row 1.

Pie:

Trisha Rux and her Red Oak pies & casseroles will be back for one last time this Market season. Find her this Saturday in row 4 - she's got those pink boxes full of pie!

See you out there!

Market at the Square, Week 25: Local, Seasonal

2009-10-15T10:07:00.007-05:00

Here are a few highlights from last weekend's Market - many thanks to those who came out and got some grocery shopping done on what turned out to be a terrific day:

Romanesco broccoli and cauliflower from the Moores

Beeswax from Blue Ribbon Apiary

Kleiss' pumpkin truck

REMINDER: Market at the Square runs through November 7 in its usual spot, no matter what the weather. Starting November 14, the Urbana Business Association will be bringing their Holiday Market to Lincoln Square. While the two markets are run by different organizations and have different emphases, they share many of the same vendors, including farmers. The Holiday Market gets underway a little later in the morning, too, starting at 8 and going until 1 PM. If you have questions, check out the link above or call their office at 344-3872.

FOOD THIS WEEK: apples, arugula, fennel, fresh herbs, leeks, onions, heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages (including Napa - my fave), carrots, lettuces and salad mixes, spinach, green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, sweet potatoes, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, radishes, fennel, kohlrabi, kale, squashes (including pumpkins) - also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more.

SPECIAL GUESTS: This weekend, we'll have the Mahomet Aquifer Project back for an encore performance (see last week's entry for more information). Also, U-Cycle will be back - this time with folks from the Landscape Recycling Center, who'll be around to answer any and all of your compost, yard waste, and other questions about ways the center can help improve your gardens and lawns.

See you out there!

Market at the Square, Week 24: True Autumn

2009-10-08T08:38:00.006-05:00

It was a bit dreary at last week's Market, as occasionally happens this time of year, so I took no photos. It's also a bit dreary as I type this. How about a Market photo from a couple of weeks ago to cheer everyone up?

Sweet peppers from Blue Moon Farm - Urbana, IL

That's better.

My meteorologist pals Ed & Mike tell me that the rain will be long gone by the time we get rolling this Saturday morning; the sun will shine down on the fruits, vegetables, food, and art, and all will be well. You'll probably require a jacket when you come out, but no raingear.

The locally-grown produce we have this time of year is so colorful and gorgeous and plentiful and tasty and... well, LOCAL! Chances are, the person who had a serious hand in growing it is right across the table from you when you buy it at the Market, too. Our growers and other producers are a tremendous local resource on several levels; they're growing food nearby and providing our community a local food option... AND they can tell you about several tasty things to do with that incredible-looking rainbow chard if you're stumped. That's part of what makes the Market so awesome and different, and it's one of the many reasons why we hope the Market has a weekly spot on your grocery-shopping roster.

Food this week:

apples, sweet corn, fennel, fresh herbs, leeks, onions, heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, chard, cabbages (including Napa - my fave), carrots, lettuces and salad mixes, spinach, green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, kohlrabi, squashes (including pumpkins) - also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more

Special events this week include:

- The final installment of Urbana's Public Arts Program's Art At the Market series. This weekend's workshop will be a "Water Creature" mask-making workshop helmed by local artist and educator Lori Caterini. This continuous workshop is happening from 8 AM - noon, is completely free and open to the public, and requires no registration. Art at the Market will return to the Market in 2010!

- University of Illinois Dance professor Jennifer Monson brings her Mahomet Aquifer Dance Project to the Market this weekend and next (the Mahomet Aquifer, in case you're unfamiliar, is an enormous water system that provides water for Urbana-Champaign and many other communities in Central Illinois). Come check out what's sure to be a compelling performance! The troupe will be performing on Walnut Street, just west of the Market site, from 9 AM - noon.

See you out there!

Market at the Square - Week 23

2009-10-01T09:32:00.004-05:00

Fall and all of its fabulous flavors and colors are really upon us now. Last weekend's Market started off foggy (check out this photo of our early morning setup, taken at 6 AM - is that the mothership from Close Encounters coming up over Illinois Street?) but ended up being lovely. We're hoping for more of the same this weekend. It won't be overly warm - it's definitely hoodie weather at the Market - but then again, it IS October...

This week's food:

apples, peaches (final week, for real this time), sweet corn, fennel, fresh herbs, leeks, onions, heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, chard, cabbages (including Napa - my fave), lettuces and salad mixes, spinach, green onions, green beans, okra, eggplant, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, kohlrabi, squashes (including pumpkins) - also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more

I'd like to encourage all patrons to not only come to the Market as we get into its last weeks, but to also bring a friend with you - someone who doesn't get to the Market that often or - gasp! - has never been. Jason of Clever Food stopped by with a friend last weekend, and I like to think there were lots of other new faces mixed in with the familiar ones.

This weekend, Urbana Fire Rescue's Fire Truck Parade and Muster will set up shop on Illinois Street, just south of the Market. The westbound lane of Illinois Street will be blocked off entirely to accomodate the Fire Department's vehicles, but the eastbound lane will hopefully be open two ways, single lane, to accomodate patrons who wish to use the parking lot on Illinois Street. (I'll post a correction if, for some reason, the lot is not accessible). Come check out some fire trucks before you head into the Market - and swing the kids by The Urbana Free Library's booth, since they'll be reading books about fire safety, fire trucks, etc to all kids.

We hope to see you out there!

Market at the Square, Week 22: Bring A Friend

2009-09-24T08:48:00.007-05:00

From the top: watermelons from Moore Family Farm, assorted flowers from the Owenses, and onions from Bob Brackett.

Astronomical summer's final Market before Fall took over was a great one.

The U of I soccer team was a hit with folks of all ages - thanks to the student-athletes and Head Coach Janet Rayfield for taking time out of their schedule to come to the Market. Gentle reminder: Big Ten play vs Minnesota opens this weekend with Soccerfest - gates open at 11:30, game at 1, free admission and FREE FOOD.

Speaking of food, here's a sampling of what we're looking at in terms of what'll be available at the Market this weekend:

apples, peaches (final week), sweet corn, fennel, fresh herbs, leeks, onions, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, chard, cabbages (including Napa - my fave), lettuces and salad mixes, green beans, okra, eggplant, hot & sweet peppers, broccoli, squashes - also, locally-raised meat and eggs, award-winning goat cheese, honey, and much more

As we begin the Fall produce season and start the home stretch (there are 7 Markets left before we close up shop for the year), I'd like to invite all our regular patrons to celebrate the Market and bring a friend along this weekend - especially if that friend has never attended the Market before, or rarely attends. The Market is a truly unique experience in Urbana-Champaign that appeals on so many levels - the gustatory and the social chief among them. Your friends deserve to discover what they're missing.

So, go on - bring someone! We'll see you out there!