The Evanston Farmers’ Market began its 50th season this month with about 70 vendors, including some that have been market staples for years and others new this season.
The market is open to the public every Saturday through Nov. 1 and takes place at University Place at Oak Avenue behind the Hilton Garden Inn. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with early entrance for shoppers with disabilities and seniors.
Live music follows shoppers as they explore booths offering fresh produce, baked goods, cheeses, meats, flowers, coffee, prepared food and more. The market has a “street fair party environment” and many loyal customers, said Kate Bressand, co-founder of Fred’s Bread, one of the vendors.
The community of loyal Evanston customers is what drew Glas All Naturals, one of this year’s new vendors, to the market.“We’ve heard how big of a market it was and how many people come here, so that’s why we wanted to come here,” said Carolyn Saucerman, who works farmers’ markets and special events for Glas All Naturals.
The Wisconsin-based cheese spread, dip and sauce business decided to join the market to spread the news about their product, Saucerman said.
Other vendors have been returning to the market for years. Kate Bressand appreciates being able to sell Fred’s Bread’s products to the “amazing” community from Evanston and surrounding areas, although she said it is a huge undertaking every Saturday.
Fred’s Bread opened in Evanston after the pandemic hit, with an original focus on making sourdough bread. Since then, Fred’s Bread has been able to rotate its pastry offerings, provide “heartier menu items” and even has plans to open a bakery and cafe this summer, Kate Bressand said.
Her husband and business partner Frédéric Bressand began baking sourdough bread and baguettes for family and friends and now works seven days a week making bread, pastries and prepared dishes for the market, Kate Bressand said.
Kate Bressand said they wouldn’t have been able to have such success if it weren’t for the Evanston Farmers’ Market.
“It just is such an amazing, amazing supportive community for local farmers and local makers,” Bressand said.
Similar to Kate Bressand and Frédéric Bressand, Ernesto Rodriguez brought his business, El Molcajete Sauces, to Evanston after the pandemic.
His store now sells red salsa, among other things, at the market throughout the summer. Red salsa is a seasonal product, so Rodriguez said he works with farmers to get the ingredients for the salsa and then decides which type he is going to make and sell each week.
He runs the business with his wife and daughter and said they share many memories of time spent at various farmers’ markets and cooking dinners together with fresh ingredients. Rodriguez said he finds it important to teach and show his daughter where their food comes from.
“I love to see other vendors have kind of the same passion that I have to be at the farmers’ market and sell your stuff,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a lot of work to bring something to the farmers’ market.”
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