Local and fresh: Area farmers markets expand hours, lengthen run dates

For many people, summer means farm-fresh produce.

And those fruits and veggies can seem even sweeter when they're grown locally.

Fortunately, a variety of farmers markets have opened for the season - or will open soon - throughout Kane and McHenry counties.

You'll find all of the usual suspects - cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower, beans - as well as other handcrafted items such as soaps and jams - at most area markets.

Although there is no "hot commodity" item for this year's estimated 300 markets in the state, Delayne Reeves of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing and Promotions said trends will occur as the season progresses.

"We have a chart on our website - illinoiswherefreshis.com - which shows precisely what people tend to invest and when. We've had our market here (in Springfield) open for a few weeks now and we've only noticed cool-weather and leftover crops really selling," she said.

Reeves said the department is also finalizing a market database, where users can input their current location and a search will yield surrounding markets sorted by distance.

There is no set date of completion, but Reeves said she expects it to be up and running soon.

Jason Pawlowski, Downtown Elgin Neighboorhood Association promotions coordinator, said the only new changes made to the Downtown Elgin's Harvest Market this year have been the extended hours on the first Thursdays of each month.

The market will stay open until 6 p.m., rather than the normal 4 p.m.

"We want to keep the market open later so that we can highlight the uniqueness and showcase our local farmers work even more," Pawlowski said.

"Having the market stay open the extra two hours will allow more people to experience both our city and the products our farmers make."

Elgin opened its downtown market May 27, and Pawlowski said he has already received an overwhelmingly positive review, which bodes well for the fate of the market come later into the summer.

Dee Basile, special events office coordinator of the city of Aurora, said the extra month added on to both markets was in demand by area farmers.

"At the end of the season last year, farmers and vendors said they'd like to see us go into another month," Basile said.

"There is a movement taking place to buy local. Farmers markets have become more widespread and people want to buy fresh and local," she said.

"We're kind of getting a new feel and different look for our markets, because we're just planning for our 100th anniversary in 2012," Basile added.

In addition to the extended hours, the Aurora markets will also feature a themed-week throughout its duration. Themes range from sustainability, children's programs, cooking and health and wellness.

"These themes will not take away from the aspect of the regular market. Instead, it will be an additional opportunity for patrons to choose from," she said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=384909">Fox Valley farmers' markets <span class="date">[6/3/10]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=384907">Tri-Cities farmers' markets <span class="date">[6/3/10]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>