Farmers markets offer locally grown produce

Cartons of blueberries sit for sale at the Downtown Harvest Market in Elgin. | Sun-Times Media File

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Updated: August 7, 2012 10:18AM

Nearly every town has one — a street or farm’s market where locals can find vegetables, jams, breads, meats, flowers and more.

It feels good to support local (or nearly local) farmers, growers, bakers and crafters, after all. This year, Aurora’s Farmers Market turns 100 years old. They are celebrating with weekly special events, such as green initiatives and wellness checks; live musical entertainment and family activities.

Students from Northern Illinois University will present food demonstrations on the second Saturday of each month. There’s also the farm-fresh produce, a variety of flowers, food demonstrations, knife sharpening and more.

Fun fact: Maple Park-based Theis Farms and Wiltse’s Farm Produce have participated in the Aurora Farmers Market since its inception in 1912.

Here’s a listing of several area farmers markets. Get browsing!

Aurora Farmers Market: At Wilder Promenade, 350 N. River St., Aurora. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 27. (630) 256-4636. Aurora-il.org.

Aurora Farmers Market West: At the West Plaza Shopping Center, 1901 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Hours: 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays July 11-Sept. 12. (630) 256-4636. Aurora-il.org.

Aurora’s Farmers Market East: At Spring Lake Park, 3500 McCoy Drive, Aurora. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays, July 11-Sept. 12. (630) 256-4636. Aurora-il.org.

Bartlett Farmers Market: At the Village Hall parking lot, 228 S. Main St., Bartlett. Hours: 2-6 p.m. Fridays to Sept. 14. (630) 837-0800. Village.bartlett.il.us.

Batavia Farmer’s Market: At 28 S. Water St., Batavia. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays to Oct. 27. (630) 761-3528. Downtownbatavia.com.

Bolingbrook Farmers Market: On Sandburg Way at the Bolingbrook Promenade, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Hours: 3-8 p.m. Thursdays to Sept 13. (630) 235-1376. Thepromenadebolingbrook.com.

Brookfield Farmers Market: At the Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield. Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 27. (708) 268-8080. Brookfieldchamber.net.

Burr Ridge Market on the Green: At Burr Ridge Village Center, 701 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge. Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursdays to Sept. 13. (630) 654-2782. Shopburrridge.com.

Channahon Farmers Market: At 24856 W. Eames St., Channahon. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays to Aug. 28. (815) 467-7275. Channahonpark.org.

Downtown Downers Grove Market: At the Main Street Metro Station, 5001 Main St., Downers Grove. Hours: 7 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 20. (630) 729-0380. Visitdownersgrove.com.

Elgin Downtown Harvest Market: 200 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. 4-8 p.m. Thursdays to Oct. 4. Kids have a chance to win prizes by trying a new vegetable each week and showing a recently checked out library book. (847) 488-1456. ElginHarvestMarket.com.

Frankfort Country Market: At Breidert Green, 100 Kansas St., Frankfort. Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays to Oct. 28. (815) 954-9788. Frankfortcountrymarket.org.

Geneva Green Market: At 75 North River Lane, Geneva. Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays to Oct. 25. (630) 377-0373. www.genevagreenmarket.org.

Geneva French Market: At the Metra train station parking lot, corner of South and Fourth streets in downtown Geneva. Hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays to Oct. 28. (312) 575-0286. Genevadowntown.org.

Glen Ellyn Farmers Market: At the Main Street parking lot, 400 Main St., Glen Ellyn. Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays to Oct. 26. (630) 469-0907. Glenellynchamber.com.

Heritage Prairie Farm Farmers Market: At Heritage Prairie Farm, 2N308 Brundige Road, Elburn. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. (630) 443-5989. Heritageprairiefarm.com.

Hinsdale Farmers Market: At 30 E. Chicago Ave., Hinsdale. Mondays to Oct. 8. (630) 323-3952. Hinsdalechamber.com.

Huntley Farmers Market: At 11704 E. Coral St. Huntley. Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. (847) 515-5248. Huntley.il.us.

Homer Glen Farmers Market: Behind Village Hall, 14933 S. Founders Center, Homer Glen. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 13. (815) 954-9788. Homerglenil.org.

Joliet City Center Farmers Market: At Van Buren Plaza and Chicago Street, Joliet. Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays to Sept. 28. (815) 774-6066. Jolietdowntown.com.

Lisle French Market: In the commuter lot west of the Village Hall, 925 Burlington Ave., Lisle. Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 27. (630) 222-3403. Villageoflisle.org.

Lockport Farmers Market: East side of Village Hall, 222 E. 9th St., Lockport. Hours: 4-8 p.m. Mondays to Aug. 27. (815) 838-3357. Lockportchamber.com.

Lombard French Market: At the Metra lot, 115 E. St. Charles Road, Lombard. Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays to Sept. 29. (630) 620-8063. Lombardtowncentre.org.

Naperville Farmers Market: At the Fifth Avenue Station parking lot, 200 E. 5th Ave., Naperville. Hours: 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 27. Held rain or shine. Market may extend into November. (630) 369-5638. Naperville.il.us/farmersmarket.

New Lenox French Market: At Gear Drive and Haven Avenue, New Lenox. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 6. (815) 462-6400. Newlenox.net.

Oak Park Farmers Market: At 460 Lake St., Oak Park. Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays to Oct. 27. (708) 383-6400. Oak-park.us/farmersmarket.

Old Dundee Farmers Market: At 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays to Oct. 27. (847) 426-4307. Dundeedepot.com.

Oswego County Market: At 5 N. Main St., Oswego. Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays to Sept. 30. (630) 554-4433. Oswegolandparkdistrict.org.

Riverview Farmstead Market: At Riverview Farm, 111th Street and Brook Road, Naperville. Hours 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays to Sept. 27. (815) 722-9419. Reconnectwithnature.org.

St. Charles Farmers Market: At Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays to Oct. 26. (630) 584-6680. Bakermemorialchurch.org.

South Elgin Farmers Market: The Flower Wagon, 989 W. Spring St., South Elgin. Hours: 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays to Sept. 19. (847) 622-0003. Southelgin.com.

Sugar Grove French Market: In the Village Hall parking lot, 10 Municipal Drive, Sugar Grove. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. (312) 575-0286. Sugargrovechamber.org.

Summer Market: At Freedom Commons on Freedom Drive between I-88/Naperville exit and Diehl Road, Naperville. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 27. (630) 527-0900. Freedomcommons.com.

Villa Park French Market: Park Boulevard and Ardmore Avenue, Villa Park. Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays to Oct. 28. (630)834-8500. Invillapark.com.

Warrenville Farmer’s Market: At Courtyard Banquets, 3S200 State Route 59, Warrenville. Hours: 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays rain or shine to Sept. 12. (630) 393-7279. Warrenvilleparks.org.

Western Springs French Market: At Hillgrove Avenue between Lawn Street and Grand Avenue, Western Springs. Hours: 2-7 p.m., Thursdays to Oct. 25. (708) 246-1800. Wsprings.com.

Westmont Fresh Marketplace: At Cass Avenue and Burlington Avenue, Westmont. Hours: 4-8 p.m., Thursdays to Aug. 30. (630) 829-9378. Westmontevents.com.

Wheaton French Market: In the municipal parking lot at Main Street and Liberty Drive (200 S. Main St.), Wheaton. Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays to Nov. 10 in Wheaton. (312) 575-0286. Wheaton.il.us.

Winfield Farmers Market: At Prairie Trail Center, County Farm and Geneva roads, Winfield. Hours: 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesdays to Oct. 31. (630) 682-3712. Warrenvillechamber.com.

Yorktown Mall Farmers Market: At 203 Yorktown Road, Lombard. 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays to Sept. 12. (630) 729-7330. Yorktowncenter.com.

Yorkville Farmers’ Market: In Town Square, Route 47 and Main Street, Yorkville. Hours: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays to Oct. 27. (630) 553-2582. Yorkville.il.us.

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