Changes in store for Bartlett farmers market

The Bartlett farmers market will end an hour later this year to give commuters more time to get their pick of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The new hours will keep the market open from 2 to 7 p.m. on Fridays from June to September.

Village President Michael Airdo said he thinks the market should be advertised as “new and improved.”

“I think it’s good for downtown,” he said, adding that there needs to be more outreach to commuters.

The market was moved to its new location in the village hall parking lot last year. Management Analyst Scott Skrycki said the average weekly attendance dropped from 536 in 2011 to 419 in 2012, but blamed the decline on last summer’s extremely warm weather, which resulted in one market being canceled and three others ending early.

Skrycki said he will remind Metra commuters on Friday mornings about the change to a later time, and encourage them to walk over to the market when they get off the train. He also is working to partner with the coffee vendor at the Metra station to provide commuters with additional reminders.