Bolingbrook Farmers Market Integral Part of Summer Routine

All summer long, throughout the Chicagoland region, farmers markets are open for business.  Mornings, afternoons, weekends, and weekdays—it's always easy to locate a farmers market near me.  

My husband and I occasionally visit various nearby farmers markets for fun, but I am a faithful customer at the market located at the Promenade in Bolingbrook.  Held every Thursday afternoon from 3:00-8:00pm throughout the summer, this market features vendors of all shapes and sizes, from larger food vendors to smaller specialty vendors, and even home-based cottage industries.  Sometimes my goal is simply to purchase my regular items—farm-raised meat and eggs, fresh produce, and bread—but other times I love meandering from booth to booth, simply browsing, chatting with vendors, and admiring the food and craft items on display.

I love how this farmers market has grown throughout the past several years, and I love how I've established relationships with some of the various vendors.  For example, Samantha (and Eric) Sexton of Nature's Choice Farm are not just a vendor from whom I purchase healthy meat and eggs; I've gotten to know them as people who are passionate about providing quality products for their clients.  I feel good knowing where my food comes from, and I feel even better that these farmers know me by name!

This year, I've also gotten to know Channa Johnson of HerBakery.  She is easy to chat with, and has a ready smile for me when I approach her booth.  I also love the fact that she uses healthy ingredients--even organic where possible--in her goodies.  Although I usually bake my own sweet goods, I don't mind splurging when I know there are quality ingredients involved.  I've purchased her chocolate chip cookies, and recently tried her birthday cake cookies--both of which are tasty treats my family can enjoy.

Here are a few sights from my most recent visit to the farmers market at the Promenade last Thursday, August 30.