Lemont Farmers Market Opens Summer Season with Fresh Vendors, Kids Activities

As the number of vendors continues to grow for Lemont’s Farmers Market, village officials are also putting the finishing touches on some new components that will be added to this summer’s event.

Beginning June 7, the Farmers Market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday in the Talcott Square parking lot at Stephen and Talcott streets.

This year, the market has more vendors than ever before, and will also include activities for kids.

“We should have about six dates during the market where there will be a children’s activity of some sort,” said Donna Pecina, marketing coordinator for the village of Lemont. “We don’t have all the details ironed out or the dates set but we should be announcing that fairly soon.”

Vivianna Grasso, owner of and a coordinator of the market, said a state grant is allowing them to host educational activities for both adults and children.

“Some of the restaurants and local vendors will be teaching kids how to utilize market resources to cook so that should be fun,” she said.

There will also be a welcome booth during the market to greet customers, which will offer information about summer activities around  town, and possibly offer coupons and promotions from the different Lemont businesses.

The Farmers Market has been a staple in Lemont for more than a decade. But when coordinators opted to relocate the market from Budnick Plaza to Talcott Square a few years ago, vendors were initially leery about the move.

“Historically, if a market gets moved, it tends to fail,” Pecina said. “But for us it did the opposite.”

For years, Lemont’s Farmers Market consisted of only a handful of vendors.

“We had one vegetable vendor and one fruit vendor — those were the core pieces of the market,” Pecina said. “For a few years we had a bread vendor and then different ones would come and go. There really wasn’t room for a whole lot else over at Budnik’s.”

Today, in its new location, the market has grown to more than 20, and offers a variety of fruits, vegetables, famous Mirai corn, flowers and shrubs, baked goods and more.

Oberweis will be at the market giving samples every Tuesday. Palos Painters will display a variety of backyard and garden themed items, including custom painted Adirondack chairs, bird feeders, bean bag boxes and outdoor art.

“The market is thriving,” Pecina said.

Grasso said she can’t wait.

“I love people and I’m looking forward to building new relationships and cooking really good and healthy this summer,” she said. “I think the market inspires you.”

For more information, visit the village's website or the Lemont Farmers Market Facebook page.

Produce

Zandstra's Produce: Various varieties of tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions, beets, fall deco, mushrooms, herbs, potatoes, eggplant, broccoli, corn, carrots, lettuce, radishes, pickles, cukes, beans, and brussel sprouts.

Twin Garden Farms: Mirai Sweet Corn and a great variety of seasonal vegetables.

Paw Paw River Farm: Red raspberries, sweet cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, tart cherries (for pies), peaches, pears, Asian pears, apples, plums, grapes, honey, maple syrup, cider, blueberries, nectarines, and apple butter.

Misc. Food

Pasta Pappone: Handmade pasta in an array of flavors, including spinach basil garlic, tomato basil garlic, lemon pepper, wild mushroom, pumpkin spice and more.

The Cheese People: Local, small batch cheeses. Many custom made for us and/or aged by us.

Fraternite Notre Dame/Sister Marie of the Gospel: French pastries, home made by the Sisters to help our Soup Kitchen and our missions.

The Olive Tap: Olive oils, balsamic vinegars, wine vinegars.

El Gringo Loco: Salsa, BBQ Sauce, Buffalo Wing Sauce, Hot Sauce, Tortilla Chips, Taco Filling, Sloppy Joe Filling, & Chili Con Queso.

Juice Plus/Terese Griffin: Dehydrated fruits & vegetables in capsules, chewables and a meal replacement shake.

Espresso Express: Brew Coffee, Blended Coffee, Blended Smoothies, Iced Tea and Iced Lemonade.

West Pullman Baking/Renee Kozuch: Pretzel bread, rolls, Rugala, muffins, bagels, Italian rolls and bread.

Parmesans Wood Stone Pizza: Pizza by the slice; cheesy bread (mozzarella baked inside), pop, fresh baked sausage sandwich, garlic rolls, dinner rolls, bagels, flat-bread, sour dough, crumb cake, cinnamon buns.

Antoine Elie/Flip Brands, L.L.C. d/b/a Flip Crepes: Sweet crepes: chocolate, caramel, jams. Savory crepes, i.e. ham & cheese, vegetarian; and iced tea, lemonade.

Plants/Flowers

Hiemenz Nursery: Container grown perennials, shrubs, mums.

Home Goods

Shaklee/Marilyn Garapolo: Get Clean - Green Cleaning Products, Vitamins, Cinch Inch Loss Products & Skincare.

Tupperware/Indra Singh: Tupperware products (food storage and microwave products).

Mike Skrobin/Palos Painters: Variety of backyard/garden themed items, including custom painted adirondack chairs, bird feeders, bean bag boxes and outdoor art.

The Pampered Chef/Linda Zajac: Cooking tools, spices, sauces and sprinkles.

Accessories/Gifts

Weaving Peace/Julie Stapleton: Hand woven baskets from Ghana, West Africa. Beaded jewelry made in Uganda, Africa, made from recycled paper. Five market dates: June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26 and August 9.

Mr. Feelgoods/Thomas Purrazzo: Sunglasses

Mike and Elaine Loy/Pink Frog Boutique, f/k/a Crystal Creations: Handmade jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, designer inspired handbags, rock candles, infant and children's accessories, clothes, tu-tu's, etc.

Heather Tomala/Premier Designs Jewelry: High fashion jewelry. Four Market dates: July 26, Aug. 30, Sept. 13 and Sept. 27.

Victoria Nolin/Scented Seasons: Handpoured soy candles and handmade olive oil soaps. Two Market Dates:  June 7 and June 28.

Informational

MB Financial Bank: Informational booth to increase community awareness and provide information on promotions and products.

Master Gardeners: Free gardening advice the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

David Thompson/Oberweis Dairy: Not selling products. Information on home delivery services. Passing out samples to include: milk, lemonade, sweet tea, orange juice, and ice cream.

Costco Wholesale: Informational booth promoting Costco memberships.