News and Events

  • 04.06.2023 Evanston Thrives Retail District Action Plan Suggests Moving the Farmers Market. Guess Where.
    Evanston Thrives Retail District Action Plan Suggests Moving the Farmers Market. Guess Where.
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    After you’ve read the following post, you’ll have a chance to make your views known to the city by responding to a survey that you can fill out by clicking this link. It is important to note that responses can only be made “through Monday, April 10,” according to the weekly Evanston E-News. It’s hard to tell from that language if Sunday or Monday is the cut-off, so it’d be best to respond over the weekend.

    In an article posted on March 26, the Evanston Roundtable reported that, “Evanston officials have released a draft of consultants’ findings in a much-anticipated report, Evanston Thrives, that lays out an action plan for improving the city’s retail districts.” Part of this draft plan involves an initiative familiar to Evanston Farmers Market shoppers and vendors: Moving the market to Fountain Square.

    You can read Bob Seidenberg’s article at this link.. A 20-page executive summary is available here. The board of the Friends of Evanston Farmers Markets responded with a Letter to the Editor, which was published here.

    The Friends of Evanston Farmers Markets was more than cool to this plan when it was proposed in 2021. Aside from any other reasons, that was largely because there had been no contact with the Market Manager or with vendors to obtain opinions and data about whether the notion was feasible, and how the change of venue would affect the market’s size and popularity.

    The 2021 proposal also suggested shifting the management of the market to the 501(c)(3) organization Downtown Evanston instead of Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Department, where it resides currently. Friends was uncomfortable with this proposal as well.

    The Evanston Thrives “Framework” has given the notion of transplanting the Farmers Market new life. And although the creators of this draft plan appear to have done a lot of outreach in developing their proposals, the outreach did not include the current management of the market or any of its nearly 60 vendors. Again.

    Members of the Friends board will be meeting with Mayor Biss and other city officials soon to find out how a plan was developed without consulting the people who currently make the Downtown Evanston Farmers Market a continuing success.

    If you care about the integrity of the Evanston farmers market, please fill out this survey this weekend. The deadline again is Monday, April 10.



  • 12.01.2022 Your weekly update on Evanston’s Indoor Farmers Markets: April 22-29 Markets
    Your weekly update on Evanston’s Indoor Farmers Markets: April 22-29 Markets
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    THE REMAINING INDOOR MARKETS

    Evanston Indoor Farmers Market at
    The Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.

    MARKET HOURS | LOCATION | CONTACT

    Saturday, April 22 and 29, from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    Evanston Ecology Center

    2024 McCormick Boulevard, Evanston, IL 60201

    847.448.8256

    (Free parking is available in the lot at Bridge and McCormick. The parking lot can be accessed from McCormick Blvd. )

    THE VENDORS

    Cocina Azteca

    Dottie’s Kitchen

    Dulce Caramel Co. 

    Journey One Bar At A Time

    Mindful Baking

    River Valley Ranch

    The Eating Well

    The Naked Truffle 

    Please note that the remaining Indoor Farmers Markets, through April, will all be held at the Ecology Center.



  • 09.16.2022 Evanston’s Soul and Smoke was back for our first Chef Demo since–you know. Here’s Chef Carter’s recipe.
    Evanston’s Soul and Smoke was back for our first Chef Demo since–you know. Here’s Chef Carter’s recipe.
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    There have been a couple of chef demos at the market this season, but they weren’t organized by Friends. Cindee Bath, our tireless organizer of such events has been reaching out with little success this season, and it is understandable that chefs who have been so generous of their time in the past decade are facing daily challenges that make participation more than a little challenging.

    So it was great to learn that standout restaurant and former market vendor Soul and Smoke’s D’Andre Carter and Heather Bublick managed to find the time and resources to visit the farmers market for our first chef demo in over 2 years.

    Chef Carter produced Braised Beef Short Rib with Bell Pepper & Onion Gravy, Garlic Yukon Mashed Potatoes, Chives.

    Here’s the recipe he generously provided for the gravy and sides, which feature ingredients you can obtain right there at our farmers market.

    Bell Pepper and Onion Gravy, 8-10 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon EVOO
    • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 8 ounces diced bell peppers (green, yellow, red)
    • 4 ounces diced yellow onions
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme

    Method

    1. Heat EVOO in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the peppers and onions and stir to coat. Cover over and reduce heat to medium low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    3. Add butter to pan and swirl to melt, then sprinkle the flour over the peppers and cook, stirring until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
    4. Whisk in the broth and continue to cook until sauce comes to a boil and thickens so that it coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
    5. Stir in the thyme and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.


    Garlic Yukon Mashed Potato 4-6 Servings

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, washed and quartered
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 2 tablespoons EVOO
    • Kosher salt
    • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, warm
    • 1 stick butter, cut into quarters

    Method

    1. Preheat oven to 400°
    2. Place the potatoes in a large pot.
    3. Cover with 1 to 2 inches cold water and season generously with salt. The water should taste like the sea.
    4. Bring the pot of water to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
    5. While potatoes cook, roast garlic cloves tossed in EVOO in a foil packet for 25 minutes or until tender and caramelized.
    6. Remove garlic from the oven and discard any excess oil.
    7. Bring heavy cream, butter and garlic to a boil in a small saucepan. Once the mixture has come to a boil, remove from heat. Discard garlic cloves.
    8. Drain the potatoes and transfer to an electric mixer with paddle attachment.
    9. While the potatoes are still hot, mix for 30 seconds to break down potatoes then add 1/3 of the cream and butter and mix for another 30 seconds or until butter and cream are just incorporated.
    10. Repeat this process until all of the cream and butter is incorporated, taking care not to over mix or potatoes will turn out gummy.
    11. Taste the potatoes for seasoning and add salt, if needed.
    12. Serve immediately or cover with foil and keep warm in an oven on low heat.


  • 09.25.2021 Another survey gathers opinions from market shoppers, and exactly what has been discussed about moving the farmers market
    Another survey gathers opinions from market shoppers, and exactly what has been discussed about moving the farmers market

    Seven hundred people filled out our shopper survey at last week’s market, and we hope more folks will at tomorrow’s market. Like our survey to the vendors, we aren’t asking for opinions about moving the market to Fountain Square. We’re asking what’s important for shoppers at any farmers market: parking, variety and number of vendors, layout, hours, and support for Link.

    Friends’ purpose is gathering information, and then sharing it with everyone who has an interest in our farmers market. Our first survey, and a collection of comments from readers and market shoppers was delivered in person to Mayor Biss, among other folks. At the moment, Friends isn’t trying to persuade anyone; Friends’ intention is to inform everyone.

    That intention got a little muddled at last week’s market. The couple of signs about the survey included the phrase, “Don’t let them move our market.” That is not Friends’ position, as we’ve stressed many times.

    Had those signs read, “DON’T LET THEM MOVE OUR MARKET UNLESS THE PROPERTY BECOMES UNAVAILABLE, AND ONLY IF THE PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT AND INCLUDES EVANSTON CITIZENS AND THE TEAM THAT SUCCESSFULLY RUNS THE MARKET NOW,” we would have needed a much longer sign, but that would have reflected what we’re really about.

    The result has been a general concern about how imminent moving the market might be. To answer that question, let’s look at the public record, and see what’s been discussed and what’s been decided. Then you’ll know what we know.

    DOWNTOWN EVANSTON BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 14, 2021.

    The minutes include this discussion:

    Farmers Market Management

    • Erika Storlie presented opportunity for DTE to manage the Farmer’s Market
    • Paul commented that City is really focusing on service delivery and the market does not fall under that umbrella; Paul will share expense/income report which shows it is a net-positive operation
    • Annie noted possibility of moving it to Fountain Square

    Erika Storlie is Evanston’s City Manager

    Paul Zalmezak is Evanston’s Economic Development Manager.

    Annie Coakley is the Executive Director of Downtown Evanston.

    So the City Manager and The Economic Development Manager presented an opportunity to take over management of the Farmers Market to Downtown Evanston. The Executive Director of Downtown Evanston added the notion of moving the market to Fountain Square.

    From this presentation, we move to the next meeting of the Evanston Economic Development Committee.

    EVANSTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 24, 2021

    The meeting packet included a memorandum on page 30. The memorandum begins:

    Recommended Action: Staff recommends Economic Development Committee discuss contracting with Downtown Evanston for the management of the Farmer’s Market.

    Council Action: For Discussion

    Summary: Staff is seeking input from the Economic Development Committee about a proposal to consider transferring management of the Evanston Farmers Market to Downtown Evanston.

    After some history and background, the memorandum ends:

    Staff is seeking the Economic Development Committee’s feedback on Downtown Evanston’s potential management of the Farmers Market. The advantages to shifting the management of the market to Downtown Evanston include:

    1. Allows City to focus on higher level of core service delivery.
    2. Brings a renewed energy and new ideas to the market as downtown district reinvents post pandemic and growing negative impacts of e-commerce.
    3. Potential relocation to Fountain Square and downtown streets to increase shopping and dining visits at existing storefronts.
    4. Provides Downtown Evanston with a new potential revenue opportunity ultimately reducing its dependence on additional City of Evanston financial contributions.

    We have already shared the minutes of this meeting, and we’ll give you links to all these documents, but the final comment in the minutes has the best answer to the question everyone is asking.

    “Mr. Zalmezak said [the Farmers Market] would likely operate in current location for at least another season or two. It would take some time to transition and plan.”

    To summarize, the city presented Downtown Evanston with the opportunity to manage the market. They did not demur, and DTE’s Executive Director suggested the actual moving of the market. The idea was then presented to the EDC in the form of a memorandum.

    The memorandum outlines the benefits that might accrue. In the EDC meeting itself, aldermen and staff speculated about more potential benefits. There wasn’t any supporting data presented along with these ideas. They mention “…there would need to be a year of transition to meet with current staff and farmers,” and one alderman, “…suggested talking with farmers to get their feedback.”

    There has as yet been no meeting with current staff or farmers, and no feedback sought. There’s no firm timeline, so there’s nothing wrong with that. But in the apparent absence of any research, Friends reached out to our vendors and gathered a lot of data. We reached out to you folks in this newsletter and collected a lot of opinions. Our shopper survey is gathering more data AND more opinions. Bottom line–after the reporting in February, this initiative was completely under the radar. Friends felt that shoppers and vendors should know about it, and that the city should know what those groups felt about the possibility.

    If the EDC and DTE choose to move forward with planning, they’ll have access to our collected information and your opinions. We’ll make sure they do. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for you as well.

    Here are the links to the documents used in writing this novel.

    Downtown Evanston January Board Meeting Minutes

    Evanston Economic Development Committee February Meeting Packet

    Evanston Economic Development Committee February Meeting Minutes



  • 08.20.2021 Move our farmers market? Friends read about a proposed plan, and took some action.
    Move our farmers market? Friends read about a proposed plan, and took some action.

    On February 25th, 2021 Evanston Now reported that the Downtown Market might be moved to Fountain Square. The motivation for the market relocation is financial. Annie Coakley, Executive Director of Downtown Evanston, states “the move could provide opportunities for additional sponsorships and related activities that could generate more revenue for the group’s activities.” Another board member sees the move as generating more business for struggling downtown retailers.
    It was Evanston Economic Development Committee member Lisa Dziekan who said the city should survey the vendors at the market to make sure they would support the change. “My biggest concern would be if somehow it led to a weakening of the number of farmers participating,” she was reported as saying. And that’s where FEFM stepped in. We realize the 46-year-old, award -winning, popular market attracting the best of the Midwest growers and artisans doesn’t just happen. Every Saturday, before dawn, trucks pull into the parking lot where the preparation, under the direction of market manager, Myra Gorman, begins for a wonderful display of nature’s gifts. For 27 Saturdays, this growers and shoppers mega-event unfolds with precision, very much like the operas I enjoy.
    The Friends of Evanston Farmers Markets developed a survey intended to provide concrete information on the scope of our current market–the footprint of vendors’ spaces, the time they take to set up, their requirement for electric, water, or other services, and many other details. The survey also dug deep into the relative importance of many details that make our current market possible. We consider all this information critical in considering this potential move. Why?
    You can put a farmers market almost anywhere–here’s the original site of our Downtown Evanston Farmers Market in 1975, and it’s a far cry from the weekly event 46 years later.

    So what kind of a market would fit in the proposed new location, and would that location suit the needs of the vendors who make our market the destination for thousands of shoppers each week?
     
    We received survey responses from more than 80% of our vendors. We have shared the survey results with the city of Evanston, and with the vendors of our market. Now, we’d like to share the information with you, the shoppers who also make our market one of the best in the country. Click right here for a summary of the results, and our observations regarding the results.
     
    We’re interested in your thoughts as well. Our market was founded in 1975 by several Evanston citizens. One of them was Harriet Friedlander, who passed away last year. The Evanston Roundtable’s obituary explained, “Harriet founded the Evanston Farmers Market in 1975 out of a desire to be able to buy locally-grown organic produce. Driven out by low-cost grocery chains, farmers markets had disappeared in the Chicago area after the Second World War, but began reappearing in the mid- and late 1970s. The Evanston Market was the very first, and soon was widely emulated in both the city and suburbs. Harriet was well-known among the farmers, many of whom have now been at the market for decades.” Our citizens have driven the existence and growth of the market for nearly a half century. That’s a tradition worth continuing. Send your comments to info@evanstonfarmersmarkets.org.