Personal touch at Naperville market benefits farmers and consumers

Melissa Morlock remembers sleeping under the tables of her parents' farmstand when she was 5 years old.

J.W. Morlock and Girls' setup has been a staple of the Naperville Farmers Market for more than 25 years. Every Saturday morning between June and October, you can expect to see the Morlock family's colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables on display in the Fifth Avenue Station parking lot.

Now 33, Morlock's role has changed slightly from her childhood.

“Well, I used to get to sleep in the truck on the way here, so I definitely don't get to do that anymore,” she said.

Because the family sells fresh produce in a different location every day, Morlock has been handling the Naperville stop on her own for roughly the last 15 years.

Her routine begins around 1 or 2 a.m. when she drives from her home in Watervliet, Michigan, to the family farm in the same town. There she loads the truck with whatever is in season, then drives up to two and a half hours to Naperville. Once the tables are set up, the market opens at 7 a.m. and goes until noon. By the time she is back home in southwestern Michigan, it has been an 18-hour day.

Despite the long hours, Morlock says the relationships she has formed over the years make it all worthwhile.

“The people in Naperville are pretty fantastic and they get to know you after a while,” she said. “I have three children myself now so they start to ask about them and how they're doing, which is very nice.”

Morlock's father, Jeff, says the personal relationships are what keep farmers markets thriving. He said customers are better able to learn when produce is at the peak of freshness and where their food is grown.

“In grocery stores, people lose track of the seasons,” he said. “But at farmers markets, you get to talk to the farmers and really learn more about what you're buying.”

According to the Department of Agriculture, the country has seen a slight increase in the number of farmers markets nationwide since 2012. The Morlock family and fellow local farmers are encouraged to see the growth.

“Born and raised” on the family farm, Morlock said she and her two younger sisters were the help. They moved through the ranks from picking to bagging and finally to selling their products. After high school, she attended cosmetology school and worked in a salon for five years, but she missed working with her parents and sisters. So, she decided to follow in her father's footsteps and continue the family business.

Morlock has brought her 4-year-old, 2-year-old and 6-month-old to the Naperville market several times but says it's a little too early to put her children to work.

“Maybe next year when my daughter is 5 she'll be a little bit better,” she said.

If you go

What: Naperville Farmers Market

When: 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays through October

Where: Fifth Avenue Station parking lot, 200 E. 5th Ave., Naperville

Info: naperville.il.us/farmersmarket.aspx