Photo credit: Aitor Escauriaza via Visualhunt / CC BY
I love, love, LOVE this time of the year! The boys are running around outside, everything is green, the windows in the house are open, my garden is growing great (along with a few weeds, but much better than last year), and we have so many great farmers markets that are getting into full swing.
Why do I like going to farmer’s markets? For one, you are supporting your local community. Also, even though organic produce in the supermarket is better than conventionally grown foods, it still has to be shipped from wherever it was grown and often times is not still as nutritionally dense as we would like. Vendors at farmer’s markets, on the other hand, pick their produce that morning or possibly the day before, at the peak of ripeness. Oftentimes, they do not use pesticides or any type of chemical spray (definitely always ask though). Many times the produce is organically grown, although perhaps they haven’t obtained the “certified organic” label. You can also get fresh meat, eggs, baked goods, flowers, crafts … it’s a lot of fun 🙂
A few other perks of a farmer’s market: the produce you buy is in season and the price is reasonable. For example, last week I bought some organic strawberries for about $4 at the local supermarket. Not sure where they came from (I believe Mexico) or how they were grown. This week at a local farmer’s market I bought some delicious strawberries (clean, no pesticides/insecticides) for $2.50. Buy a bunch of produce: freeze it, can it, ferment it, or eat it fresh!
OK – now for a list of local farmer’s markets:
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (June to October)
Located at 300 block of State St. and 400 block of East Grand Ave., Beloit, WI
Belvidere Farmers Market and Crafts
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (June to October)
1940 N. State St., Belvidere, IL (located in the Dodge Lanes parking lot)
Byron Sunshine Park Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon (late July through early October)
Located in Sunshine Park, corner of Peru St. and Illinois 2, Byron, IL
Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May through October)
Located at CherryVale Mall on Perryville Road across from Menards, Cherry Valley, IL
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (first week of May through last week of October)
Located in the parking lot at Edgebrook shopping center, corner of N.Alpine and Highcrest Rds, Rockford, IL
Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May through October)
1240 S. Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL (corner of S.Alpine and Newburg)
Fridays, 3 to 7 p.m. (mid May through mid October)
1132 Second Ave., Rockford, IL (located across from Nicholson Hardware)
North End Commons Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon (late May through October)
1416 N. Main St., Rockford, IL (in the parking lot behind La Di Da Gifts and Antiques)
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (July through September)
Located in the Perryville Commons Shopping Center, Rockford, IL (enter at Perryville and Fincham intersection)
Fridays, 3 to 7 p.m. (June through October)
Located in the 100 and 200 blocks of Water St, Rockford, IL
Roscoe Main St Square Farmers Market
Thursdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May through October)
Located at Main St Square Shopping Center, Illinois 251 and Williams Drive, Roscoe, IL
Fridays, 3:30 to 7 p.m. (May through October)
Located at Winnebago Village Park, Main and Benton Streets, Winnebago, IL
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Located in the Historic Woodstock Square, just off Hwy 47, Woodstock, IL
Happy shopping!
~ Alicia
Healthy Home Body LLC 
Very good article! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our website.
Keep up the good writing.
LikeLike