Chef Jeremy Lycan, of Niche Restaurant, in Geneva, IL
Talking about plastic bags and how we can bring our own to the market. Decorating our own bags!
Summer season is here and the Geneva Green Market is in full swing. The month of July in the Fox Valley growing region offers a wide variety of produce that will tantalize your taste buds and diversify your garden. Come to the market to find fresh, local food to enhance your every-day meals! Here’s a brief sample of the fruits and vegetable available in July from Dekalb County, Dupage County, Kane County and Kendall County Illinois farms:
Veggies:
Fruits:
The New York Times featured an article on the trend of local food and community supported agriculture, or CSA, entitled “Shoppers buy slices of farms” by Susan Saulny in the July 10, 2008 edition. Highlighted in the piece was Geneva Green Market vendor Erehwon Farms:
“The CSA provides a base that’s certain, and we get the money when we need to spend the money,” said Beth Propst, who farms the fields at Erehwon, using the abbreviation for community-supported agriculture. “Having the money upfront and guaranteed, that gets us through at least the beginning of the season.”
Tim Fuller, Propst’s longtime companion and business partner in running the farm, said: “People are coming to us. We do very little marketing except for explaining what we do. It’s amazing.”
With a wry smile, Fuller said he considers himself both personal farmer and personal trainer, because shareholders under his direction are going to break a sweat.
“There’s always pressure on,” he said. “This is a complicated business, growing so many crops. We do everything by hand for more than 100 different crops.”
“I think people are becoming more local-minded…” said Nichole Nazelrod, program coordinator at the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a national clearinghouse for community-supported farms. “People are seeing ways to come together and work together to make this successful.”
Cattleana Ranch in Omro, Wisconsin, Thomas and Susan Wrchota offer grass fed meat and organic produce through a community-supported arrangement.
“We don’t do millions in revenue, but we make a living, which is rare,” he said. “Our goal is to provide a full portfolio of products for folks who want sustainable products. Up until about five years ago, we had to do a tremendous amount of guerrilla marketing. The consumer who is interested now, they’re doing their homework. They know the health and taste benefits.”
Some shareholders said they found the arrangement a bargain compared to grocery shopping… Most agreed that the urge to buy and spend locally to avoid the costs and environmental degradation that come with shipping and storage was behind the decision to join. Shareholders can pick up their goods at the farm or at a store across the street.
“From a ‘going green’ standpoint, it’s an appropriate thing to do,” said Gerard Brill, a musician who bought a share of Erehwon. “Like everything organic, it’s not a bargain, but what price do you put on being healthy? Considering all things, it’s actually a very good deal.”
The Geneva Green Market was honored to receive the Kane County Chronicle’s “Best of the Fox 2008” Readers’ Choice Award, for the Best Farmers Market 2008. Thanks to the readers who voted for us and we look forward to seeing you at the market starting June 26th at 75 North River Lane, Geneva Illinois and making this the best market season yet!
75 N. River Lane
Geneva IL (Kane County)
June 26th – October 30th
Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
630-208-9321 Karen
Route 25 - Aurora Transportation Center
June 21-September 27
Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Bethany of Fox Valley UMC
Opposite Rush-Copley Heart Institute (Dupage County)
July 8th - August 26th
Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
West Plaza at Galena & Edgelawn
July 9th - August 27th
Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
630-844-4731 Lisa
Stop by for Dick’s Mini Donuts and smoothies served up fresh on site, or for Wurst Kitchen’s homemade brats and dogs straight off the grill. In addition you’ll find a selection of cheese, vinegars, jardinière, gourmet mixes, cookware, handcrafted jewelry, flowers, lawn decorations, plus pet treats and apparel, while Provena Mercy provides on-site blood pressure checks and health screenings.
28 S. Water St
Batavia IL (Kane County)
June 28th – October 11th
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
630-721-3528 Britta
Back by popular demand are Gourmet Days the first Saturday of the month with Chef Jason of Enticing Cuisine who will be cooking up tasting samples using market fresh ingredients. New this year is Green Day at the Market on September 20th.
Lincoln Hwy between 2nd and 3rd Streets
Dekalb IL (Dekalb County)
June - October
Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
815-748-7788
Located in downtown DeKalb’s historic cobblestone Palmer Court. Produce, flowers, herbs, wine, soy products - all home grown in Illinois plus arts and crafts.
319 N. River St.
East Dundee IL (Dupage County)
May 10 - October 25
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
847-742-3432 June
Vendors are selling locally grown veggies (in season), flowers, and bedding plants, plus antiques and collectibles.
500 Filmore St.
Elburn IL (Kane County)
June 15th - September 28th
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
630-365-6315 Shannon
email
Third Street near the train station
Geneva IL (Kane County)
April 27 – October 26th
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
630-365-6315 Leslie
Downtown Oswego
Oswego IL (Will County)
June through September
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
630-554-4433
Jackson Street, between LaSalle and Columbus
Ottawa, IL 61350 (LaSalle County)
May - October
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
815-433-0084 Meg
Throughout the course of a growing season, our market attracts over fifty vendors, selling homegrown fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants and homemade bread, cakes, cookies, fudge and pies along with homemade craft items and homemade dog treats and toys!
The goals of the Market are: to promote, preserve and support the Market as a source of healthy, locally-grown and produced food and goods; to preserve local sustainable agriculture; and, to enhance the quality of life in the Ottawa area by providing a community gathering place and tourist attraction.
Baker Memorial United Methodist Church
4th Ave and Main St (Route 64)
St Charles IL (Kane County)
June 6th – October 31st
Fridays, 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
630-584-6680 Rob
The St. Charles Farmers Market offers fresh from Kane County produce, fruit, cheese, eggs, pork, bacon, sausage, meat and poultry products, bountiful fruit and flowers from Michigan Orchards as well as fresh flowers, garden plants, honey, produce and foodstuffs from Illinois growers. The Market also offers a tempting array of gourmet food products, fresh baked bread, garden and landscaping products, jewelry, arts and crafts.
Sugar Grove Village Hall
Rt. 30 & Municipal Drive (10 Municipal Drive)
Sugar Grove IL (Kane County)
June 7th – September 27th
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
630-466-2024 Pat
The market has vegetable and fruit producers, specialty crop growers, food vendors and crafters.
Downtown Sycamore
Sycamore IL (Dekalb County)
June - September
Sundays
815-895-3456
Local vendors gather together in the heart of Sycamore for the Discover Sycamore French market. The market includes fresh produce, locally made wine, and other homemade creations create the uniqueness of the market.
Town Square, Route 47 and Main St
Yorkville, IL 60560
Kendall County
June 14 - October 25, 2008
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
630-553-4347
Farm fresh vegetables, honey, baked goods and more every Saturday morning beginning in June through late October. You’ll also find plants, handmade crafts and something different every week. In addition to vegetables you’ll find a variety of other fresh produce including fruits, honey, herbs, plants, crafts, home baked goods and much more!
What:
Earth Day Festival
Where:
Campton Hills Park, at Peck and Campton Hills Road
When:
Morning Bird Walk … 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Ecological Restoration … 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Family Fun Fest … 12:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.
Directions to Campton Hills Park
From the intersection of Campton Hills & Peck Roads, travel west on Campton Hills Road. Use the 2nd park entrance on the left.
Come out and enjoy!
What:
USGBC: Fox River Valley Suburban Kick-Off Event
When:
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
5:30—8:00 pm
Where:
Prairie Landing
2325 Longest Drive
West Chicago, Illinois
Sponser:
US Green Building Council (USGBC), Chicago Chapter
Just because we’re called the USGBC-Chicago Chapter doesn’t mean all our events are in Chicago! Join the Fox River Valley Suburban Committee at their first networking event. This is an open invitation to members as well as interested guests to learn more about the USGBC – Chicago Chapter, LEED, and upcoming Chapter initiatives.The main program speakers will be Doug Widener, Executive Director of the Chicago Chapter, and Laureen Blissard, current Chapter Chair. They will give an introduction to USGBC and an overview of the LEED Rating System.
For more info, contact USGBC: Chicago Chapter (773) 265-5911 or visit: chapters.usgbc.org/Chicago/
The Geneva Green Market, NFP group is devoted to education of the health-giving nature of locally grown food, local sustainability, and conservation of resources. We are located at the Geneva Green Market, a green Farmers Market in Geneva IL. The Market has local Farmers with in 200 mile radius of Geneva IL. These farmers are dedicated to bringing the freshest from their fields directly to your plate.
Harry Brockman, a farmer in central Illinois who won the National Sustainability Award, stated in his book, Organic Matters:
“It sounds naïve, perhaps even self-important, but in my very small way, I am working to save the world. And every time you eat truly organic food that is grown and sold locally, you too, are working to save the world.”
We feel our farmers at the Geneva Green Market share this sentiment—come be a part of saving the world, one plate at a time.
Karen Stark
Geneva Green Market, NFP
Where:
75 N RIVER LANE, GENEVA IL 60134
When:
Thursdays
June 26 through October 30, 2008
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Contact:
email us
630.208.9321
Location is at 75 N. River Lane , in the picturesque park along the west side of the mighty Fox River.
Farmers and products vendors from within 200 miles of Geneva, IL are invited to join the Geneva Green Market.
Chef Jeremy Lycan of Geneva’s Niche Restaurant (recently named one of the top 100 restaurants by Chicago magazine), and Mark Weaver of Geneva’s Inglenook Pantry (recently written up in The Chicago Tribune for their “to-die-for Chicken Tetrazzini”) are both actively involved in getting local chefs to support the Geneva Green Market and buy fresh, locally grown product, as well as offering the public educational information and demonstrations on cooking with fresh produce.
The Geneva Green Market also supports Geneva merchants who offer “green” products, and will actively help those merchants get the word out if they have green products available.
Farmers’ market produce is renowned for being locally-grown and very fresh. People argue farmers’ markets allow farmers to pick produce at the peak of flavor, preserve the nutritional content of fresh produce, and since locally-grown produce does not travel as far to get to your table, the difference in mileage saves fossil fuels.
Farmers’ markets often feature produce grown naturally or organically, meats that are raised humanely on pasture, handmade farmstead cheeses, eggs and poultry from free-range fowl, as well as heirloom produce and heritage breeds of meat and fowl.
Farmers’ markets advocates help farmers stay in business as well as preserve natural resources. Wholesale prices farmers get for their produce are very low, often near the cost of production. Farmers who sell direct to the public without going through a middle man get a better price. It can be shown that the preservation of farmland is important for the health of the environment and water supply. According to the American Farmland Trust, sustainable and managed farms conserve soil and clean water and provide a habitat for wildlife. Moreover, modern farmers’ markets help maintain important social ties, linking rural and urban populations and even close neighbors in mutually rewarding exchange …
Local food (also regional food) or the local food movement is a “collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies - one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place” [1] and is considered to be a part of the broader sustainability movement. It is part of the concept of local purchasing and local economies, a preference to buy locally produced goods and services. Those who prefer to eat locally grown/produced food sometimes call themselves “localvores” or locavores …
[ source: Wikipedia.org ]
Thursday, June 26 through October 30, 2008 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., locally grown, minimally processed produce and products will be available at the Geneva Green Market to chefs, foodies and everyday people.
Interested farmers—please call 630-208-9321 for the 2008 season. We are in the process of sending out information to local farmers, please call or email us to receive information. Thanks and have a great growing season!
