Seriously

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!