Shop St. John's Farmers Market in Naperville
After four years, the Farmers Market at St. John's Episcopal Church in Naperville has become more than just a place to shop for farm fresh produce. It's a weekly summer event the whole family can enjoy.
Open 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 21, the farmers market is at St. John's, 750 Aurora Ave., at the corner of Aurora Avenue and West Street, Naperville.
Not only will shoppers find produce picked at its peak from the fields that morning, or breads and pastries baked earlier that day, they'll also discover freshly squeezed juices and baked empanadas, or talk with former Super Bowl player Sean Considine of the Baltimore Ravens as they buy their meat.
New to the market this year is a free story time program offered by the Naperville Public Library. Each week, children and families will have opportunities to listen to a story and make a craft or play a game. The activities will run every 30 minutes during market hours. The crafts and games will relate to the week's story, and all the activities tie into the summer program theme of plants, insects and pollinators.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Naperville Public Library this year," said Jan Hummel, market master for the Farmers Market at St. John's. "We see many families come through with children, so we believe this is a great addition to our market."
In addition to the weekly events provided by the Naperville Public Library, the Farmers Market at St. John's will host special events. The summer event schedule includes an Independence Day event Wednesday, June 29, with a drawing for a U.S. flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.; and a National Farmers Market Week celebration Wednesday, Aug. 3, that features cooking demonstrations and tastings of freshly grilled fruits and vegetables.
The Farmers Market at St. John's also will bring back two popular vendors that were new last year: Headon and Considine's Market and DeEtta's Bakery.
Sean Considine, who played for the Baltimore Ravens when they won the Super Bowl in 2012, now runs a 30-foot mobile meat truck. In partnership with Headon Meats in Creston, weekly offerings include fresh Angus beef such as steaks, roasts and burgers, as well as ribs, chicken, pork and a variety of brats.
DeEtta's Bakery of Naperville makes everything by hand using artisan flours, real butter and no preservatives or food additives. It offers a wide selection of products at the Farmers Market at St. John's, including cookies, breads, scones, muffins, brownies and marshmallows.
The market also features a variety of vendors offering seasonally fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as honey, farm fresh eggs, meats, cheese, organic specialty foods, breads and pastries, coffee, jams, sauces, natural skin care products, French linens and more.
"It's exciting to see our market grow and bring in something new each year," Hummel said. "We enjoy supporting local businesses, offering a service to the community at-large and making a positive impact on St. John's outreach initiatives."
Vendors pay a space rental fee for use of St. John's parking lot to sell their products directly to the public over the 16-week period. The net proceeds from those fees will help fund St. John's outreach initiatives, including an annual youth mission trip and support a range of organizations from local to international, such as Loaves and Fishes Community Services, Hesed House, Lifespring and Feed My Starving Children.
For information about the Farmers Market at St. John's, email farmersmarketatstjohns@gmail.com or visit stjohns-episcopal.com.
If you go
What: Farmers Market at St. John's Episcopal Church
What: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 21
Where: 750 Aurora Ave., Aurora Avenue at West Street, Naperville
Info: farmersmarketatstjohns@gmail.com