Campton Hills farmers market turns three

Local farmers will be in downtown Campton Hills on Saturday, selling fresh meat, eggs, and produce, as the village farmers market opens its third season.

This year organizers say they put an emphasis on locally grown food and flowers, as opposed to items shipped from other states.

"It's strictly a green market - no crafts, no jewelry," said event co-chair Karen Dowd, who organizes it with co-chair Linda Bauman and lead coordinator Sue Windland.

The markets run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through Oct. 17 at Campton Crossings Shopping Center on the southeast corner of Route 64 and La Fox Road.

New this year are free educational presentations at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Tim Norris of Spring Bluff Nursery will lecture on Japanese beetles and other garden pests this week.

Organizers said about 280 people were in attendance for one of the last markets of the season last year, marking strong growth since launching two summers ago after the village incorporated.

Deputy Village Clerk Bill Beith said five vendors have committed for the whole season, while others are set to be there biweekly or monthly.

"A good portion of the five we've got are repeats. They found it was well-organized and well-run," Beith said. "We've had some positive feedback."

In addition to locally grown food, coffee, doughnuts and juice will be sold by featured local businesses, and a local animal shelter will have adoption drives, Dowd said.

The Campton Hills Farmers Market is self-funded. Vendor rates are $150 a season or prorated based on frequency.

For more information, call village hall at (630) 584-5700.