Hot Tips

Continually pressed for time, we offer instead these photos from last weekend (click to make big):

As you can see, things are getting colorful at the Market. The plums were a revelation for us - they're deep red inside, hence their name - "Red Heart". Oh - and corn is in, and there's plenty of it. 

The weather will take center stage once again this weekend, with a forecast high of 95 degrees and mostly sunny skies. It won't be that hot during the Market, but it'll still be very warm. We encourage patrons to come early, and to bring sunscreen and water bottles and hats for an optimum marketing experience.

Art at the Market is happening this weekend! There'll be a letter press workshop with the Soybean Press, and local musical wizard Ryan Groff (he's also in the band Elsinore) will be provided from 9:30-11:30. Einstein's Bagels in Urbana is donating coffee, too! Look for all the action at the NW entrance to the Market - the whole thing is completely free.

Also of note: The Illinois Farmers Market Task Force is meeting for the first time this week in Springfield; we'll be in attendance. It should be interesting - for more info about what the Task Force is all about, you can read the text of the Public Act right here. 

So Much Food...

We're a little pressed for time this week, so the update will be short. First - some photos from last week. If you click them, they get bigger!

Last week's Sprouts event set a record for number of attendees for the June event - almost 100 kids participated. Thanks very much to Jen Hewitt, our Sprouts coordinator, and her army of volunteers for working with the kids at the Market. July's event will happen 7/21 - stay tuned for more information. Next week we'll have Art at the Market - an art workshop with the Soybean Press, musical entertainment by super-talented local musician Ryan Groff, and free coffee from Einstein's in Urbana!


This week, though, the Market looks to be quite full of vendors, so traverse all five rows to avoid missing anything. Oh - and the Crave Truck will be back after last week's technical difficulties. The weather will be bright and sunny and not too hot... but plenty warm. And the food is magnificent. Come early for very limited sweet corn, stay late for everything else.

Solstice Approaches

There's no doubt the Solstice is on the way when things get this colorful at the Market. Warning: Seriously vibrant photos ahead.

Right now it's looking like even more of the glorious same for patrons this weekend, with some bonus warm weather (the forecast high for Saturday is in the low 90s). There will be some serious eating this weekend.


Sprouts at the Market is also happening this weekend - bring your favorite Sprout(s) (ages 3-8) to the Market to meet some farmers, sample some produce, and learn a few things about the foods they're trying and the farms the food came from via a trivia scavenger hunt. 

Sprouts runs from 9-11, is completely free, and requires no pre-registration. Just check in at Sprouts HQ (near the City's tent at the NW entrance to the Market) or at any of the three Sprouts tables inside the Market. Those folks will hook you and your Sprout up. Kids who finish get a certificate of participation that can be use for a discount at Art Mart Toys (Saturday only) and at least one cool sticker!


See you out there on Saturday. The water tent will be super-stocked and ready to go.

Gentle Reminder

We all know fruit is the Queen Bee of farmers markets everywhere - everyone loves fresh-picked fruit in season. It's the basis for incredible summer desserts, of course, but it's also good to eat right out of the bag or box. And it's healthy. And so colorful. And delicate. And full of flavor. C'mon. PEACHES.


But let us not forget vegetables. If fruit is the fancy topper, vegetables are the foundation. And they're coming on like gangbusters at the Market.

We're seeing peas, beans, broccoli, bok choy, salad and other types of greens, cucumbers, hydroponic tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, turnips, radishes, beets, and probably more. There are also garlic scapes and fresh herbs. That's DINNER. Your evening meal. Add some farm-raised meat and cheese, go ahead and buy that fruit, and you're set for a killer evening meal.


This weekend, the Bloodmobile will be joining us - they'll be located in the parking lot just west of the Market site. The U of I Nanotechnology folks will also be in the community groups row (Row 5) this Saturday as part of our Science at the Market series. Next week will be our June Sprouts at the Market event - stay tuned for more details!

Summer? Spring? PEACHES.

Last weekend was one of the hottest Markets in recent memory. But people came out anyway and did the Market proud, and buying local food and art and listening to local music. They made art, too, at our Art at the Market workshop, which was a runaway success. Some folks just came to the Market, got what they wanted, and got the heck out of there. Who could blame them? It was well over 90 degrees when we ended at noon.


Couldn't make it? Here are some photos - click on them to make them larger:

This weekend's Market weather will be much cooler and possibly cloudier. The irony here? We'll also be seeing the first of the green beans (thanks, Kleiss Produce!), and, miraculously, the first in southern IL peaches and apricots from Mileur Orchard in Murphysboro, IL (they're in Row 4). Both of these additions to the Market will ease the pain of saying ciao to strawberries and asparagus. If you find either of them at the Market this weekend, it's because you got there super-early.


The Urbana Free Library and the Urbana Business Association will be joining us this weekend near Market HQ, at the NW entrance to the Market. The library will have balloons and books for the kids, the UBA will have info about the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival (coming up in August), and we can help you out with Market merchandise, swipe your credit/debit, or LINK card, and tell you which vendor is where.


We're looking forward to the first Market of June, our fifth of the season, and we're especially looking forward to seeing you, you, and ESPECIALLY you. 

No Other Word For It

And that would be hot. It was hot at the Market last weekend, and it'll be hot this weekend, too. The Market is also kind of hot, as in, people like us. They really like us. And who wouldn't, when this is what we offer?

You'll see more of the same this weekend, plus warmer weather stuff - a few blueberries, broccoli, things like that. You won't see as many strawberries or as much asparagus - the extra-warm weather isn't good for those things. The season for strawberries and asparagus was short, but so, so glorious.


Something (relatively) cool happening this weekend...

Art at the Market makes its 2012 season debut with a free art workshop to all patrons PLUS the first installment of its performance series. The workshop will be led by local artist Kathryn Fitzgerald, and the performers this month will be Community Center For the Arts & Friends. The whole thing gets underway at 9 AM in the Walnut Street area of the Market - it's on the west side of the Market. As part of this series, Einstein Bros Bagels will be donating free coffee on these dates - that'll be available after 8 AM at the Market's Bev Tent on the north side of the Market. Supplies will be limited.

It's been a crazy-yet-completely-awesome season thus far. Thanks, as always, for your support of the Market - we have the best patrons. See you tomorrow!

Getting Warmed Up

We had another fabulous Market Saturday last weekend. Honestly, the weather so far this season has been incredible, if a little on the warm side. IT IS MAY, AND IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE ON THE WARM SIDE. After last May's cool and cloudy series of Markets, this is not a bad thing.


So. We took more photos. If you want to see them in the large style, click on the images:

Shoppers can expect more of the same this weekend with warm temperatures and sunny skies and lots of strawberries. As always, it is highly recommended that you come early for the best selection of everything, especially with the warm weather. Asparagus, peas, berries, lettuces, spinach, chard, leeks, greenhouse zukes, green garlic and onions, turnips and radishes, and probably lots more will be out for your perusal this weekend. Flowers, plants, meats, goat cheese and goat's milk gelato, honey, jams and jellies, and scratch-made baked goods will also be ready to go home with you this weekend. YUM. We're telling you, it's an embarrassment of riches out there for so early in the season.


We also have tons of high-quality handmade goods being sold at the Market - we're talking jewelry, photos, soap, woodwork, candles, paintings, upcycled clothing, bags and satchels, and much more. And, as always, you'll find performers scattered throughout the Market, playing music from many genres for patron enjoyment.


Of note this weekend: Our first Sprouts at the Market event is happening from 9-11 AM. 

Our May event is always a seed-planting workshop for kids ages 3-8 - this year, sunflowers are the planting plan. Join Market staff and a cadre of volunteers as we plant seeds, talk about what the plants will look like, look at other types of seeds and the foods they grow into, and more! It's free and there's no pre-registration required. All participating kids get a Certificate of Participation, which can be used for a discount during the day at Art Mart Toys in Lincoln Square Mall. 


Next week: More details on our first Art at the Market workshop and accompanying Performance on Walnut Street series... plus a special treat! Stay tuned.