Just the First Sentence Makes Me Laugh

"The local food movement has been all about buying seasonal food from nearby farmers. Now, thanks to the Web, it is expanding to include far-away farmers too." [emphasis mine]

You can read the rest here:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/an-online-farmers-market/

Check the Market's Flickr page for other images that may remind you of warmer days.

Food Rules!

Happy New Year!

We're already deep in preparations for Market at the Square's 30th season (116 days away!); part of that preparation involves evaluation of policies and procedures for vendors, so when The Land Connection the chance to co-sponsor Food Rules, we jumped at it.

Confusion over what's legal and what isn't in terms of prepared foods at farmers' markets is a perennially thorny issue all over the state of Illinois, due mainly to county-by-county differences in regulation. Food Rules is a traveling workshop making its way around the state, with panelists from state and county health departments and other agencies meeting up with panelists from local and regional markets (food producers and market managers) to explain regulations to and answer the questions of existing or would-be producers.

From The Land Connection's official press release:

Consumers are demanding fresh, local produce at an increasing rate and regional farmers are stepping up production to meet that demand. To support farmers as they assess and address the legal and financial risks of producing, processing, and marketing farm products to their communities, The Land Connection and the University of Illinois Extension are collaborating to host Food Rules workshops throughout the state. "Farmers are sometimes unaware of the many rules and regulations that apply to producing, transporting, and selling meats, eggs, cheese, jams, pickles, or baked goods,"says Terra Brockman, founder of The Land Connection. "This workshop will provide information, and allow participants to ask specific questions to the regulators and experts on the panel."

The City of Urbana/Market at the Square is proud to be working with the The Land Connection, University of Illinois Extension of Champaign County, and the Champaign County Farm Bureau to bring Food Rules to the community. For information about registration, click here. For the event's Facebook page, click here. For the City of Urbana's page about the event, click here.

I'll also be on WCIA this Thursday morning at 6:50 and 7:25 AM to chat with Anne Dill about Food Rules, the growing role farmers' markets are playing in our food procurement, and what's so great about knowing where your food comes from.

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A couple recent articles of interest:

Honey Laundering - read here about honey smuggling. It's kind of incredible.

Civil Eats - this blog has recently re-launched - lots of excellent stuff to read.

'Tis the Season!

Happy holidays, everyone. Hope you all emerge from the deep freeze (2 degrees above zero FAHRENHEIT as I type this) intact, and we at Market at the Square/the City of Urbana send along our best wishes for 2009.

A couple things: First, I need to let everyone know about the Food Rules workshop we're hosting on January 13, 2009, along with U of I Extension, the Champaign County Farm Bureau, and The Land Connection. If you're currently offering prepared foods at the Market (or are considering doing so), this workshop is a great opportunity to discover what, exactly, the health department requirements are on the state and county level to be able to do so legally. I'll blog about this in more detail after the holidays; for now, there's more information at The Land Connection's site or this Facebook page.

Second, Market at the Square will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009. We'll be marking this milestone in many different ways - honestly, Market devotees, next season is shaping up to be flat-out AWESOME - but one thing I'd love is access to photos anyone might have taken at the Market over the years for eventual inclusion (with permission, of course) in an online collage or photo album or DVD documenting the Market's history. The older, the better. Have something you'd be willing to let us use for this community project? Let me know.

Want something to hang your winter hats on? Opening Day is a mere 131 days away!

I can't say this enough: Market at the Square starts for the season on Saturday, May 2, 2009, in the southeast corner of Lincoln Square Village's parking lot. Showtime is at 7 AM, rain or shine, and the season will continue through Saturday, November 7, 2009.

More soon - for now, have a safe and happy holiday.

The Party's Over (for 2008, at least)

Well, Market nerds, November 8 is upon us... and the first (or second, depending on where things fall on the calendar) Saturday of November marks the end of the outdoor Market season.

In seasons past, when I was a regular (and slightly fanatical) patron and not supervising things, I would attend the last outdoor Market, whatever the weather, and find myself getting all sad and nostalgic for the mornings of Saturdays past. I'd talk vendors' heads off that last day. I'd buy stuff I didn't really need. I'd look around for my friends so I could have someone to talk with as the season wound down for good right in front of me on that last day. I would finally take my stuff to my car and just sit there, feeling empty.

Just so you know, nothing's changed for me. I guarantee you I'll be doing all of the above tomorrow.

Aw, guys, it's been such a great season. Even with the torrential rains in June and July, even with the wacky weather affecting produce availability all season long, even with the Moo Mobile leaving us in August - it's been AWESOME.

I want to thank the excellent Market staffers who got up early and worked without complaint in all kinds of weather, occasionally dressed up in costume for special events, listened to my rambling, and handled patron feedback with humor and grace. I MUST thank every single vendor who sold their wares this year, every single community group who set up this year to let us all know what was going on, every performer who played/sang/danced/spoke/made balloon art, and every single patron who came out, whatever the weather, to support Urbana's fantastic open-air Market, one of the largest and best of its kind in the entire state of Illinois. Without all the players, it wouldn't be the experience it has become for so many over the years - and the experience it will become for the new patrons that venture out every year.

A slightly different version of the Market, called the Holiday Market, opens in Lincoln Square Village on Saturday, November 15, at 8 A.M. The Urbana Business Association does a terrific job of showcasing local art, craft, and produce vendors in a winter holiday atmosphere. If you're wondering who's scheduled to be there, give the UBA a call at 344-3872.

I'll be hanging out at the Holiday Market selling Market at the Square T-shirts and tote bags (they make terrific gifts for the Market nerds in your life), but my thoughts will be drifting toward spring, because...

... Market at the Square's 30th season opens May 2, 2009, and there's a lot to do. I'll be blogging here on occasion to keep people posted about local food events, stuff that's newsworthy, etc, but also to muse about what's on tap for next year. Keep us in your feed reader!

Thanks again, everybody.

Market at the Square, Week 26

Many thanks to everyone who came out for last week's Market at the Scare! It was chilly and damp, but we saw a lot of really excellent costumes. Next year's event will be a real bash, I think. For photos from last week, head over here.

Chef Alisa has been writing excellent Market updates for Smile Politely - this week's column is no exception. There's a great photo of carrots - and YOU HAVE NOT LIVED until you've had carrots from the Market. look for them from several produce vendors, most of who are still hanging out at the Market.

There is a preponderance of squash at the Market, too. Shapes, sizes, flavors abound... but what the heck does one do with these late fall jewels? Fear not - Culinate has some answers.

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OK. This week's Market is the next-to-last Market for the 2008 season.

:: sob::

Before taking this job, you see, I was a weekly-without-fail-the-postman-has-nothing-on-me attendee of the Market, and I was always very sad when it closed for the season. Helming the Market hasn't made a bit of difference in that regard - I'm still going to miss it - but I also get to start planning for 2009 in earnest, which is cool but requires a break. So, for all you Market addicts, here's something to keep you going:

Market at the Square will open for the 2009 season (and begin partying like it's 1979, since it's turning 30 and all) on SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009. I'll write a little more about what's in store for 2009... after November 8, 2008.

Market at the Scare

Things went so well at last week's Sprouts event!

A HUGE shoutout goes to Jen Hewitt and her stellar group of volunteers from the University's Student Dietetic Association - Sprouts doesn't happen without these folks. We gave away almost 70 tote bags, which means almost 70 kids "trick-or-treated" for fresh, seasonal produce at last week's Market and got a little education, to boot.

Another huge shoutout goes to our participating produce vendors: Blue Moon Farm, Tiny Greens, Tomahnous Farm, Kleiss Produce Farm, Brackett Farm, Meyer Produce, Prairie Fruits Farm, and Moore Family Farm. Sprouts doesn't happen without these folks, either.





This weekend is the last Saturday before Halloween, which means it's time to get those costumes out for a test run at Market at the Scare. I'll be taking photos of all the costumes and shenanigans, there'll be plenty of free candy and cider (good thing we had Sprouts last weekend...), and a couple lucky kids will be winners of pre-carved Market pumpkins. We'll start things off at 9 A.M., rain or shine - just look for the tent next to the City's Information Station. Both tents are located at the Market's NW entrance.

[Poster art done by Slanky Design - they're responsible for most (all?) of the Market's look this year.]

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As Market at the Square continues to wind down to its inevitable 2008 conclusion on November 8, I'm getting more questions that bascially boil down to this:

"What happens after you guys are done outside?"

Here's the basic answer:

After November 8, the City of Urbana is done with Market at the Square until Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 7 A.M.

HOWEVER...

The Urbana Business Association picks up where the City leaves off and offers the community its Holiday Market, which is located indoors at Lincoln Square Village and runs from November 15 - December 20. It's not just an arts & crafts & gifts fair - many of the produce and food vendors you've come to know and love outside head inside when things finish up outside. The hours are a bit more civilized, too, especially with those dark winter mornings ahead - things start at 8 A.M. and run through 1 P.M. If you have questions about the Holiday Market, give Susan a call at the UBA at 344-3872.

See you at the Market! I'll be the one in the witch hat. With candy. Trying not to eat it.

Sprouts at the Market

Fall's here, everyone. I woke up at 6:15 this morning and it was 43 degrees and the air smelled of leaves and my neighbor's brewing coffee and the moon was still out in the northwest sky and... oh! It can be such a great season. I'm going to try and maintain this feeling through my much-earlier (and probably much-chillier) start on Saturday morning...

...the Market's slowly winding down it its typically bittersweet fashion. We've successfully consolidated operations into four rows and it seems to be going smoothly, but if you're ever looking for a vendor who doesn't seem to be in the right place, please come to the Market's Information Station at the northwest entrance - we'll be able to help.

This weekend's Market features our final Sprouts at the Market event for the 2008 season.

[If you want to read the Sprouts FAQ, go here]

U of I's Jen Hewitt will lead another series of short nutrition workshops for kids, this time focusing on fall and winter fruits and vegetables. After the workshop, each participating Sprout will receive an official market tote bag and can "trick-or-treat" for something fresh and seasonal from participating growers. Workshops and trick-or-treating happen on the half hour starting at 9, with the last session underway at 10:30. Tote bags and produce supplies are limited, so please arrive early for your session to ensure participation! Questions? Email me or call 384-2319.

Next weekend: Market at the Scare! Costumes! Picture-taking! Candy! Pumpkin raffling! Seriously, folks, it's a great way to take that Halloween costume on a dry run.

One more thing: The Eastern Illinois Foodbank kicks off their 22nd annual Food for Families drive this weekend. Check their website for food donation locations and where to send cash donations - you can even donate online. It's crucial they meet their goals - over 136,000 people in Eastern Illinois aren't getting enough to eat, and the number is rising.

See you at the Market!