With only two markets left in the season, anxiety is in the air. Local food enthusiasts are feeling sad, pessimistic and slightly paranoid, wondering when we in Illinois will join the fortunate of being able to eat fresh, local and sustainable year round. For the time being, at least through Christmas, we can get by with the Holiday Market sponsored by the Urbana Business Association inside Lincoln Square Mall. The holiday market picks up where Market at the Square leaves off and runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many of the local farmers and craft vendors participate in the Holiday Market and I will report on who exactly is planning to be there next week.
This past Saturday was bitter cold with morning temperatures in the mid-thirties that caused a pretty slow start. Yet, warmer temps and partly sunny skies later that morning made for a good shopping day all around with plenty of trick or treating and smiling faces. There are still a plenty of farmers left at the market, including Blue Moon, Brackett Farm, Jeff Meyer, Kliess, Carrie, Tomahnous, Moores, First Fruits, Country Cottage and Prairie Fruits. With the beautiful day they’re predicting for Saturday, it should be a great day to shop, visit, enjoy the music and brush up on the candidates for our local election at the numerous political booths.
In other news, Triple S Farms is done for the year, but luckily you can still find plenty of Stan’s pastured beef, pork and chicken at the Co-op. Lisa at Tomahnous Farm is always surprising us with something new, and last week it was celery and celery root, perfect for those cold weather stews. Tiny Greens have released a small supply of beautifully pickled peppers, perfect for sandwiches or snacking, and a great deal, so get some while they last. Prairie Fruits Farm will have their creamy goat’s milk ricotta this week along with a new herbal version of their extremely popular Angel Food, so save money for cheese and the other great finds in aisle four.
See you at the Square.
The Market on the Square runs every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, rain or shine now through November 8th. It is located in the parking lot of Urbana Square Mall on the corners of Vine and Illinois Streets.