It's Business Time

Last week's Market was a slam-dunk - the weather was wonderful, everyone was out and about, and the food was plentiful (especially asparagus). Thanks, to everyone for coming out!

This week's Market is looking much the same, with the forecast calling for partly cloudy skies and highs in the high 60s, and loads of fresh produce in every aisle. Here's the list:

• salad mix and lettuces
• asparagus
• radishes
• chard
• kale
• rhubarb
• fresh herbs
• bok choi
• strawberries (arrive very early)
• certified organic vegetable starts

There'll also be goat cheese, lots of meat and eggs, plenty of baked goods (including Stewart Pequignot, whose bagels, breads, and granola bars were often asked-about last week), flowers, plants, art and crafts (local batik artist Jill Miller will be putting in an appearance this week, among others), prepared foods, coffee, etc.

My favorite part of the Market day this year will be - well, all of them, but especially breakfast. Why? Because The Great Impasta comes to the Market while you're still sleeping, shops for the morning's breakfast ingredients, and will have omelets and who knows what else available over at the restaurant (in Lincoln Square, in the previous Milo's location) starting at 8 AM. Last week I had a 100% local omelet breakfast that included eggs from Country Cottage Farm, Chard from Blue Moon Farm, asparagus from... someone, and goat cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm. The sausage? From Triple S. YUM. Impasta's outdoor seating will be in full effect, too.

Two other things - Common Ground Food Co-op, located just to the northwest of the Market, will be having its annual plant sale on their patio during the Market. Several plant sales are happening within Lincoln Square Village, too - shopping the plant sales is a great Mothers' Day tradition, so get on over there. ALSO - the Urbana Business Association is launching Second Saturday - a new event held in Lincoln Square and Downtown on the, well, second Saturday of each month. Look for antiques and other items for sale in these locations - you can call Susan at 344-3872 for more information.

NEXT WEEK: book signing with Joe McFarland, author of Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois & Surrounding States

TWO WEEKS: Sprouts at the Market

See you out there!

Shall We Begin?

Yes, Lisa.

OK! Market at the Square 2009 will be underway less than 12 hours from now. Come on out between 7 AM and noon to pick up your:

asparagus
baby bok choi
shiitake mushrooms
salad mix
radishes
turnip greens
green onions
goat cheese
eggs
meat
100% legal baked goods (some by indie bakers!)
vegetable starts
flowers
original works of art
etc etc etc

Free coffee: this warm fuzzy will be back later in May - many, many thanks to Hanford Inn and Suites in Urbana for the sponsorship this season. However, it should be noted that vendors within the Market as well as other local businesses sell awesome coffees - some local roasts, some fairly-traded, some organic, all delicious. Make sure to show them some love, too.

Dogs at the Market - if you're a dog owner who loves bringing your four-legged pal to the Market, please stop by the City tent (northwest corner of the Market) to grab the EZ version of our policy regarding dogs. Fido and Spot are more than welcome at the Market as long as the basic guidelines are observed. The long version of the policy will be on our website next week. Thanks!

Outside the Market:

I've heard a rumor that Great Impasta will be doing a breakfast based on ingredients found at the Market - might want to meander over there, since it's just north of the Market lot, in the former Milo's location.

Common Ground Food Co-op will have special Saturday hours during the 7-month Market season - they'll open with the Market at 7 and close at 9. Yes!

We'll see you out there!

One Week Out

Folks planting at O'Rourke Family Gardens in Downs, IL

We're a week out from the opening day of the Market's 2009 season, and as if on cue, the weather has greatly improved. Thank goodness, because last winter was TOO LONG.

While the produce situation was looking rather slow a couple of weeks ago, there will definitely be asparagus, some greens, radishes, mushrooms, and a few other yummy things from the ground at the May 2 market. I encourage you to ask your farmer what their timeline is in terms of other spring foods - rhubarb, strawberries, peas, and later spring greens should be here by the end of May, which really isn't that far away.

Regarding home-baked goods at the Market: These items are still on the "no" list, but I should have an update next week regarding the status of some of your favorite home bakers - I know several are looking into alternative baking sites so they can continue to provide everybody with the baked goods they've come to know, love, and expect over the years. Check back again in a few days - I should have something for you.

In the meantime - get thee to Prairie Fruits Farm to take advantage of their on-farm sales and breakfast for one last weekend. It's not just about award-winning goat cheese, either (though if it was, that'd be OK, too) - it's about seasonal, fresh produce, hand-spun yarn, a hot breakfast whipped up by Chef Alisa DeMarco, and BABY GOATS. Prairie Fruits Farm will be at the Market starting May 2, but the goatlets will be staying behind.

Opening Day = Less Than 2 Weeks Away

... and home-baked goods are still banned from the Market. Last week was harsh.

Anna Barnes, a local who knows about all things food, writes today about this issue for Smile Politely. If you feel strongly in either direction about this, I encourage you to leave some feedback somewhere - at the article, on Twitter, or on Facebook (see sidebar for links to those last two).

To achieve certified status and comply with the new guidelines, home bakers would have to install a three-compartment sink with three-foot drainboards on either side. (Note: Champaign County is the only county in Illinois to require this.) Depending upon the design of their homes, they may have to install an entirely separate kitchen, or use/rent a restaurant or other certified kitchen in off hours. Some in the community have already begun to reach out: Harold Allston of The Great Impasta has generously offered his kitchen to the market's home bakers for use between midnight and 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and more are sure to follow. And while this will work for the majority of baked goods — cookies, muffins, scones, pies, and short-rise breads — it isn't compatible for long-rise artisan breads. And, in Alexandra's case, it isn't compatible with her bedtime.

Like Baked Goods? Something You Should Know

This is something affecting Market at the Square directly:

On another issue, Roberts said he has clarified local regulations pertaining to home-baked goods sold at farmer's markets. No longer will pies, cookies, cakes and other products produced in a kitchen lacking a valid health permit be allowed to be sold at farmers' markets, flea markets or roadside markets.

Thoughts? Comments?

Feeling Bookish

Two book-related events of note:

Steve Ettlinger, author of the highly-entertaining (and occasionally kind of gross) book Twinkie, Deconstructed, will be speaking on campus at the YMCA at 7 PM on Thursday, April 23.

Also! Market at the Square has just scheduled its first book signing ever. The book in question is Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois, the author present will be Joe McFarland, and it's all happening at the Market on May 16, from 9-11 AM. McFarland will be signing copies of his book on-site. Check out the Illinois Mushrooms site here. More information forthcoming.

Spring Into Action

You know that snow we all saw this morning? Forget about it. Urbana's Market season, whether Mother Nature wants it to come or not, is less than four weeks away.

Application materials have been out to vendors, community groups, and performers for almost a couple of weeks now, and the deluge of people wanting to participate at the Market has begun.

Interested in participating at the market as a vendor, community group, or performer? Please go here and click on the appropriate application materials for PDF download.

Also, our first vendor meeting of the season will be happening Monday, April 13, at 5:30 PM at the Urbana Civic Center. We'll do a wrapup of the 2008 season, talk about some of the programs and other events happening at the Market in 2009, and catch up. If you're interested in becoming a vendor, this would be a great meeting to attend.

In other Market news:

- Last month, Market at the Square was selected by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to receive a $7,500 grant to be used for advertising Sprouts at the Market on local and regional television.

- Never wonder where to park your bike at the Market again! The City of Urbana is creating 40 new bike parking spaces on the green space between Walnut Street (just west of the Market lot) and the parking lot just west of Walnut. They should be installed and ready for use by the end of May.

- We're looking for a few good men and women. If you're 18 or over, interested in seasonal, very part-time employment, enjoy farmers' markets or public markets, don't mind working out in the elements and can get up early, there just might be a job for you.

- The Market will be appearing at ASAP's Food Film Fest on April 15. The event is free and open to the public, and they'll be showing some great films - Eat Drink Man Woman, King Corn, and The Real Dirt on Farmer John are all on the roster.

Have to get back to planning and plotting! Stay tuned for further updates.