Farmers market returning to Des Plaines after 7 years, with charitable conditions
The Des Plaines Community Foundation is due to receive half the net profits from the city's new farmers market, under terms of a license agreement approved Monday.
The donation of half the vendors fees, after expenses, by market managers Connie Groat and Monika Montemayor is in lieu of a license fee they would have had to pay the city to operate the market.
The city council gave unanimous approval to the management agreement on Monday night, paving the way for the farmers market to return after a seven-year hiatus.
The market will take place near the library, on Ellinwood Street between Lee and Pearson streets, starting June 19 and ending Oct. 16. It is scheduled to run weekly on Friday afternoons from 3 to 7 p.m. - proposed by 1st Ward Alderman Patti Haugeberg as a way to bring out-of-state farmers to Des Plaines a day early, since they already may be planning to attend other suburban markets on Saturdays and Sundays.
The mother-daughter team of Groat and Montemayor have assisted Jack Groat in managing the Elk Grove Farmers Market for the last three years. They also have spent seven years running the annual holiday arts and crafts show at Elk Grove High School.
According to terms of the agreement, the Des Plaines market is required to have at least three-quarters of vendors who sell agricultural products, such as produce, meat, eggs, dairy, juice or baked goods. No alcoholic beverages are to be sold.
As many as 30 vendor booths will be allowed.
The market managers must provide their own trash containers, and remove trash themselves. After cleanup, streets are expected to reopen by 9 p.m.