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

In celebration of Geneva’s annual Festival of the Vine, the Geneva Green Market will hold a “Local Food Gift Basket” give-a-way containing the best of Local Wine, Local Food and Cheese!

Come sign-up at the Geneva Green Market, one entry per Thursday, with a drawing on September 11, 2008.

Festival of the Vine
September 12 - 14, 2008

The autumn harvest is celebrated with food and wine tasting, flower markets, antique carriage rides and family games. Reap the best of Geneva cuisine from a smorgasbord of specialties from Italy, Mexico and France. Whether it’s fine dining or a deli you crave, you’ll find it all under a huge outdoor tent in downtown Geneva.

Other events include crowd-pleasing music & live entertainment, our renowned Fine Arts & Crafts Show.

Fresh at this Weeks Market:

• Beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Chinese Cabbage
• Fennel Bulbs
• Kale
• Summer Squash
• Sweet Corn
• Swiss Chard

Chef’s Demo:

Chef Jeremy Lycan, of Niche Restaurant, in Geneva, IL

Kids Corner:

Talking about plastic bags and how we can bring our own to the market. Decorating our own bags!

The Chicago Tribune featured a cover story with Chef Jeremy Lycan, of Niche Restaurant and vendor Heritage Prairie entitled “Support Your Local Farmer - Movement to eat food grown within 100 miles of home is gaining traction” in the July 6, 2008 issue:

Growing concern about such “food miles” has inspired many consumers to become locavores.

Betsy Zinser, 44, of Batavia began her pursuit of locally grown food two years ago after finding that a bag of broccoli in her freezer was produced in China.

Deri Gray, 47, a dedicated locavore in Geneva, said the ability to trace her food to its origin has given her peace of mind, particularly while health officials have been focused on tomatoes as they probe a nationwide salmonella outbreak.

“I knew right away the tomatoes I got here wouldn’t be tainted,” Gray said outside the Heritage Prairie Market in Elburn. “It hasn’t been touched commercially, so there’s nobody in between contaminating it with any disease.”

Many locavores cite a different reason for their dietary decision: Locally grown food is fresher, more nutritious and tastes better. That may explain why many chefs in the Chicago area’s trendiest restaurants feature locally grown ingredients.

“We’re finally getting back to craving the flavor and textures of produce that’s extremely fresh,” said Jeremy Lycan, chef at Niche Restaurant in Geneva.

Lycan gets his rib-eye from Dietzler Farms, a 750-acre farm in Walworth County, Wis., about 65 miles from his restaurant. And he gets garlic and beets from Heritage Prairie Market.

Niche Restaurant located in downtown Geneva, Illinois, highlights the best that the season has to offer throughout the year. This Summer Chef Jeremy Lycan works with local farmers and producers to showcase a 6 course tasting menu carefully paired, by Sommelier Jody Richardson, with 6 domestic wines. Each month we will highlight a unique taste of the season:

• July, The Bounty of Geneva Green Market
• August, A Taste of Heritage Prairie Market
• September, Out to Pasture with Dietzler Farms

Call 630.262.1000 to make reservations. Niche Restaurant is located at 14 S Third Street in downtown Geneva.

Visit www.nichegeneva.com for more details.

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 Kane County Chronicle covered the record turnout of community support and enthusiasm for the opening day of the Geneva Green Market in the Fox River Valley with a cover story in the June 27 edition entitled “Geneva Green Market a Big Hit“:

… By the end of his 30-minute demonstration, Lycan paired the scallops he brought with arugula, carrots, eggplant and scallions, all of which were available at Thursday’s opening of the Geneva Green Market on River Lane.

Rob Murphy of Curds & Whey Cheese Shoppe, which is inside Inglenook Pantry in Geneva, said he sells more than 30 types of cheese and has lots of recipes that he’s willing to share.

… For those who don’t like to cook, Lycan said starting in July, Niche Restaurant will offer meals made with produce from two local farms and the Geneva Green Market.

For the next three months, six-course tasting menus will be available from Tuesday through Friday. At least one item from the farms or market will be used in each course, Lycan said.

Read the full article online at the Kane County Chronicle online here.

The Geneva Green Market, the area’s only Farmers Market requiring all produce and products be locally grown within a 200-mile radius of Geneva IL, is kicking off their second season on Thursday, June 26 at their permanent location along the west side of the Fox River at 75 N. River Lane in Geneva from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Join us for opening ceremonial plantings at 9:00 a.m. with Geneva officials and friends, followed by cooking demonstrations and more…

Visitors will see familiar faces from last year and some new vendors as well. Products include field-fresh, minimally processed, sustainably grown, produce ranging from vegetables, herbs and fruits to meats and dairy products and more!

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE

• 7:00 a.m. Market Opens
  9:00 a.m. Local City Officials and Dignitaries to Participate in Planting Ceremony of the Geneva Green Market
  9:30 a.m. James Beard Award Nominee, Chef Jeremy Lycan’s Cooking Demonstration with Locally Grown Food
  10:30 a.m. Kid’s Corner - Illinois Natural History Survey Mobile Classroom
  11:30 a.m. Chef Jeremy Lycan’s Cooking Demonstration with Locally Grown Food

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:

• 9:00 a.m. The Illinois Natural History Survey Mobile Classroom & Traveling Science Center
  9:00 - 11:00 p.m. Guided Tours of River Park
  12:00 p.m. The Illinois Natural History Survey Mobile Classroom & Traveling Science Center

Parking is plentiful, and the weekly Geneva Green Market is located one block east of Route 31 and one block north of Route 38. For more information, please contact Karen Stark - email us here!

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!

GENEVA GREEN MARKET

75 N. River Lane
Geneva IL (Kane County)
June 26th – October 30th
Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
630-208-9321 Karen

AURORA FARMERS MARKETS

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.

BATAVIA FARMERS MARKET

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.

DEKALB FARMERS MARKET

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.

DUNDEE FARMERS MARKET

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.

ELBURN FARMERS MARKET

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

GENEVA FRENCH MARKET

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

OSWEGO COUNTRY MARKET

Downtown Oswego
Oswego IL (Will County)
June through September
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
630-554-4433

OTTAWA’S OLD TOWN FARMERS MARKET

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.

ST CHARLES FARMERS MARKET

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 FARMERS MARKET

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.

SYCAMORE FARMERS MARKET

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.

Yorkville Farmers 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!

Majestic Nursery is an establishment that strives to achieve the highest quality of fresh, seasonal foods and plants. The 5-acre nursery, farm and homestead is family owned and operated. They have encouraged a balance of bio-diversity, while maintaining a piece of land for use in the growth of plants and food. It is important to Majestic Nursery to care for themselves, the earth and the community in keeping a healthy safe and beautiful environment for all. They reserved the back third of their property, along the Fox River, Read More…