Tag: produce

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New Location for 2025/2026 Winter Farmer’s Market

Do you remember when the winter Farmer’s market in Carbondale was at the high school? I have good news from Food Works Winter Farmer’s Market Manager Ellen Esling. The next winter market will be held in Carbondale Community High School’s cafeteria.

Im inserting a link to a throwback video when the market was in an entrance hallway at the school.

Don’t forget to visit the last Food Works Winter Farmer’s Market of this season on Saturday, April 29, inside the movie theater  wing of University Mall of Carbondale. Market hours are 9:00 a.m. to noon. I hope you enjoy the photo sampling of this market season. I have enjoyed being part of it!

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A Look at the 3/9/24 Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market

The winter market is located inside University Mall (movie theatre wing,) and runs from November through March, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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Farmer’s Market Finds

As you’ve likely heard before, farmer’s markets are a great local shopping adventure. Some are practically one stop for your grocery needs. Even in winter months, the Carbobdale area is blessed to have a couple of farmer’s market options. The Community Farmer’s Market is open December through March from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the movie theater wing of the University Mall at Carbobdale. L.E.A.F. Food Hub is an online farmer’s market with pick up locations in Carbondale, DuQuoin, Carterville, Marion, Herrin, Cobden, and Tunnel Hill. Some home delivery is available.

Macarons

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market

Herbal Teas by Mustard Seed Sowers. My favorite is the Holy Basil. Licorice Mint is also good. My daughter loves the Chocolate Mint.

Honey & Shrooms has local honey and beeswax.

Glacier’s End has many wonderful shrubs and products like hickory and elderberry syrups. The Mexican Mocha Hot Sauce is wonderful. Cordials such as their Honeysuckle are great additions to drinks.

Honeysuckle Cordial complements the flavors in a homemade sparkling raspberry spritzer.
A large variety of bison products are available.

If you have SNAP/Link, it can be used to double your buying power on eligible food products at the Farmer’s Market

If you have stayed away from Farmer’s Markets because you are concerned about prices, I can tell you that there are various price points. Some gourmet local items may run a bit more than you would spend but can be used sparingly to add flare to your dishes. Many things really don’t seem any higher than national chain store prices. For example, I actually paid less for cube steak at the Farmer’s Market than I would have paid at the larger chain store. Actually, there was a better variety of meat available at the farmers market than at the chain store . Please keep in mind that if you can’t find something on bare shelves at a larger store, you might find an even better local product through one of the local markets or stores.

Flyway Family Farms has a great variety of mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, and lion’s mane. They also have seasonings and Mushroom Jerky.

Warm potato and green bean salad made with a vinaigrette containing Glacier’s End’s Apple Butter Ginger Shrub. The Shrub helped to add a bit of acidity to the vinaigrette while echoing the freshly grated ginger root.

Gallo Pinto (Costa Rica’s national breakfast dish) made with brown rice by Cahokia Rice. They also have white rice. Both are available through L.E.A.F. Food Hub.

Baked Vegetable “Stir Fry” with shiitaki mushrooms from Flyway Family Farms.

Marinated shiitaki mushrooms (Flyway Family Farm) and chicken kabobs on Rosemary BBQ Skewers from Flora Bay Farm

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market

L.E.A.F. Food Hub goodies delivered to our home.

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Watermelon radish from River to River Farm and Basil Microgreens from Autumn Ridge Farm kick this salsa garnish up a bit. Both were ordered through L.E.A.F. Food Hub.

Big Muddy Hogs in Hurst also carries many local items, such as bread from Baked on Division and Steam Shovel Coffee. They are located at 300 Adams Street. Many of the local farms and vendors give product updates and advise where you may find their products on Facebook and Instagram.

Links:

Big Muddy Hogs https://www.facebook.com/BigMuddyHogs/

Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market https://www.facebook.com/communityfarmersmarket/ http://www.carbondalemarket.com/

L.E.A.F. Food Hub https://www.facebook.com/LEAFFoodHub/ https://www.leaffoodhub.com/

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A Walk Through the Winter Farmer’s Market

I decided to take a short video as I made my first lap around the stands at the Carbondale Community Farmer’s Market this morning. The video has been posted on YouTube. (If all goes well, it is also embedded in this post…) I was amazed at the quality and variety we have here even during the dreary winter months. Fresh greens, herbs, mushrooms, and more were available.

The market meets on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Carbondale Community High School through March 28, 2020. Some of the upcoming events, besides the weekly Fit program, are a seed swap, kids’ day, and plant give away.

It is definitely worth crawling out of bed to visit on a dreary morning. I found dried ancho chili peppers as well as a bunch of fresh salad greens to play with this week…

Local root veggies

Southern Illinois honey

SNAP/LINK can go further on healthy food at a Farmer’s Market than on junk food elsewhere.

More quality locally made products
Fitness Fun at the market…
Live entertainment
More veggies…
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The New Carterville Farmers’ Market

Last Sunday, I finally made it to the Carterville Farmers’ Market in it’s new time slot. Since it now runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sundays at Cannon Park, there was plenty of time to walk around and grab lunch at the market after church.

Although it was a pretty hot afternoon, I enjoyed looking at all of the different things and chatting with some of the vendors. Dee Ann Hammack, who manages the market, had invited me to come out and see the changes since my last time there. She explained that a few of the regular vendors were absent due to the 4th of July holiday, but there was still a good variety. Some of the items I saw were local honey, fresh veggies, artisan-crafted items, kettle corn, plants, live music, and even a chuck wagon with picnic tables.

Dee Ann and her husband, Mike, also operate the Thunder 5 Ranch Chuck Wagon, a farm to fork culinary experience that also sets up at the Johnston City Farmer’s Market. The rib dinner that they prepared for me was wonderful: ribs, corn, and zucchini and onions. I also really liked the special edition 4th of July bib custom made by Nammers Crafts for the chuck wagon. Super cute. The T5R Chuck Wagon menu may vary a bit from week to week based upon what they have ready in their gardens.

The market does accept EBT/LINK and Debit/Credit for transactions. EBT/LINK purchases are limited to items allowed by law such as produce, pre-packaged food, and plants that produce food. If you enter Cannon Park from Greenbriar Street, you will drive on around to the little drive/road just past the skate park that turns toward the market and park in the grass behind the vendors (unless directed otherwise.)

Mmmm….kettle corn

Thunder 5 Ranch Chuck Wagon

BBQ Ribs!

Zucchini & onions on a custom-made bib by Nammers Crafts

Did somebody say funnel cake?

Nammers Crafts

The Potager’s Garden

Music by David Campbell of Lamp Lighter Farm

Fresh veggies