Farmers Market Delivers 'Smiles Behind The Masks' In Northbrook

NORTHBROOK, IL — Back in the spring, Dale Duda realized during the planning stage for this year's Northbrook Farmers Market that it would be unlike any other. The market's manager remembers nobody knowing what to expect during a global pandemic.

"We decided to act as if we would have a great market despite all the obstacles we faced," Duda told Patch of the market that runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday through Oct. 14.

The Northbrook Farmers Market is held at Cherry Lane and Meadow Road in downtown Northbrook.

Duda said among the first thing organizers did was learn everything they could about the coronavirus: how it spreads, the diseases it causes and what can be done to prevent spread. They turned to the Centers for Disease Control, Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Farmers Market for more specific information about operating a safe market during a pandemic.

"In the past, we defined success by the number of smiles on people's faces," Duda said. "Well, this year we can't see the smiles behind the masks, but we do have other indicators."

Vendors have reporting increased sales with some selling out, or coming close to selling out, at the conclusion of most market days, according to Duda. He added that people thank organizers every day for having the market, especially under challenging circumstances.

The list of vendors at the Northbrook Farmers Market this year includes:

• Cheese People, The
• Elsie Mae's Canning & Pies
• Farmer Nick's
• Green Spot Farm
• Katic Breads
• Le Sucre Cafe
• Mavra's Greek Oil
• Piscasaw Gardens
• Pleasant Hill Produce
• Saad's Bees
• Sharpening By Dave
• Soft Wave Fish Co., The
• Sunny Harvest Farm
• Tastebudz
• Vergo, Inc.

Among the things that makes the Northbrook Farmers Market unique is that it is the only all-volunteer run market on the North Shore. The market also collects thousands of pounds of fresh produce, as well as canned food and dry goods, for the food pantry. The market also gives away thousands of dollars to those in need of food stamps through a SNAP double value program to spend on fresh, healthy food.

"We give small and budding entrepreneurs an opportunity — one young man courageously has started a food business in the middle of the pandemic, while our long-time farmers are counting on us to keep them afloat," Duda said.

The market has put in place a number of coronavirus precautions and guidelines to keep everyone safe. Duda said rolling these out was initially challenging with many hesitant customers. According to Duda, some people were glad to see the market taking the pandemic seriously, but others didn't believe there was any threat to health because it was being held outdoors.

"It was a learning curve and an adjustment for everyone. We had to figure out how to sell, how to shop, how to still be community under very difficult circumstances," Duda said. "While it clearly is not the same experience, most people appreciate what we have been able to accomplish, and they love what they bring home from the market for their family to enjoy."

With just a few markets left, Duda is expecting to end things on a high note with a continued abundance of just-picked, farm fresh produce and other artisan foods, foods he says "you can't get anywhere else. The annual Closing Day and L'il Pumpkins celebration is planned for Oct. 14 with more details forthcoming.

To learn more about the Northbrook Farmers Market, visit here.

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