Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois - A Local Food Green Farmers Market

The Kane County Chronicle did a cover story featuring the Fox Valley Farmers Markets and local food on August 8, 2008 entitled Think Local, Eat Local: Fueled by‚ buy local trend, farmers markets remain popular choice, by Jonathan Bilyk:

For more than 25 years, she and her husband, Phil, had hawked their homegrown produce at the Downers Grove farmers market.

But as fuel costs grew, the couple, owners of Stojan Produce in Maple Park, had to cut one of their weekly market appearances loose.

And Downers Grove was the one to go this year, swapped for a weekly appearance at the Campton Hills open-air market.

So, Stojan said she is happy to see that business at the other seven markets at which she and her husband vend their produce – including the markets in St. Charles, Batavia and Elburn – appears to be holding steady or, in some instances, picking up this year.

“We seem to be going along smoothly,” Stojan said.

In recent years, the allure of these local markets has grown, as more and more people seek more locally grown food.

Some seek out organic produce.

Others see an opportunity to support local farmers.

Still others are just looking for a bargain.

But whatever the reason, farmers markets appear to be a burgeoning business, say those involved in running them.

Since 1999, the number of farmers markets in Illinois has more than doubled, with almost 250 now in operation statewide, according to information provided by the state of Illinois…

…In Kane County, a dozen local markets operate each week throughout the summer, with locations in each of the Tri-Cities, Elburn, Elgin and Sugar Grove.

The biggest of them all, however, opens its gates each Saturday morning, when the Aurora Farmers Market welcomes more than 1,200 visitors to its array of goods displayed at the Aurora Transportation Center.

Lisa Jungels, who oversees Aurora’s market for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, said the market, which dates from 1912, now offers 30 vendors selling an array of goods in an open air setting in the region, including fruits, vegetables, bread, flowers, cheese, meat, eggs, spices and even the kitchen utensils needed to prepare a meal…

…And that seems to be the key factor that, despite sagging economic conditions, continues to make farmers markets a popular choice for many local consumers, said Jungels and Rob Murphy, who coordinates the St. Charles Farmers Market on behalf of Baker United Methodist Church.

“We’ll see how the economic situation plays out,” Murphy said. “But word seems to have gotten out that there is a lot of really good local food available here.”

Mark Schramer, a Maple Park farmer and owner of Farm Direct Black Angus, said the six markets he attends present him with his best opportunities to sell the hormone-free beef he raises.

And he said those opportunities this year have been solid.

“We’ve definitely benefited from the trend of people buying local,” Schramer said…