(continued)
Geneva French Market
The Geneva French Market brings a wide variety of farm fresh produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, jewelry, gourmet foods, housewares, concessions and much more to downtown Geneva every Sunday from April-October 30th from 9am-2pm and 9am-1pm through November 13th.
The market is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Metra Train Station at Fourth and South streets.
Batavia Farmers Market
The Batavia Farmers’ Market kicks off its 27th outdoor season Saturday, May 28, 2022, on North River Street in downtown Batavia. You’ll find produce, locally raised meats, baked goods, plants, honey, and related farm products. All Batavia Farmers’ Market vendors must grow, harvest and/or produce at least 75% of market products. Many of your favorite vendors will be back this season including blueberries and fruit sustainably grown along the Lake Michigan shores by Flat Tire Farm, seasonal cut flowers grown by Fox Flower Farm, and artisanal cheeses hand made in small batches by Stamper Cheese. Other returning vendors include Garlic Breath Farm, Mighty Greens Farm, Sandhill Coffee, Sol Gardens, Gandi the Juice Guru, and Van Laar’s Fruit Farm.
In addition to these annual favorites, there will be new local vendors you’ll love like Mima’s Toast Bar makes an assortment of freshly made avocado toast, grilled cheese, and specialty toasts. Umbrella Azul is a Peruvian food vendor that specializes in empanadas, sauces, and soups. Torte di Paola offers authentic Italian desserts and savory bites, following traditional family recipes.
Local food builds community! When buying direct from a farmer, you are re-establishing a time-honored connection between the eater and the grower. Knowing the farmers gives insight into the seasons, the weather, and how you get your food. Katie and Carlos Palomares, owners of Mighty Greens Farm say, “This season marks our 6th year with the Batavia Farmers Market. Over the years, we’ve seen the community rally around the market to help it grow into one of the very best markets in the area. Because of the consistent support, we’ve been able to grow our farming business to bring more local produce to our community!”
Phil Wingo, owner of Sandhill Coffee echoes the same sentiment. “I have really enjoyed my time at the Batavia Farmers’ Market. From the vendor’s view of things, it’s awesome to see how Batavia attracts families to come hang out for the morning. To be able to interact with the makers and or farmers directly tied to the products, is a great experience. I highly recommend stopping by one Saturday morning.”
The Batavia Farmers’ Market not only provides a retail outlet for local producers; and a source for fresh, local products for consumers; but it’s a gathering place that encourages a sense of community and draws visitors to downtown Batavia. Missi Hartmann, owner of The Tea Tree (29 N. River Street, Batavia) says, “We love the Batavia Farmers’ Market! We look forward to each year. As a small business, it helps create a tremendous amount of foot traffic for us and all of downtown Batavia.”
There’s something for everyone at the market! Kids are invited to the Batavia Kiwanis sponsored Kids’ Tent for a weekly activity which is educational, market-related, free, and just plain fun. You’ll also find live music every week on the Woonerf sponsored by Instrument Exchange.
Nearly everything at The Batavia Farmers’ Market can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits except for a few items—like fresh flowers, hot prepared meals, and handmade soap. Plus, double your SNAP dollars with LINK Match. The Link Match program gives shoppers a $1-for-$1 match for their SNAP transactions with coupons to use on the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. Stop at the Batavia MainStreet information table at the market for more details.
In partnership with the opening day of the market, Saturday, May 28, head over to the Peg Bond Center (151 N. Island Avenue, Batavia) for the 2022 WellBatavia Festival which will showcase the health, wellness, and fitness resources our community has to offer. Never in recent history has wellness been such a focus. Our physical, mental, and societal health are intertwined and interrelated, and we are excited to bring our multifaceted health resource fair back to downtown Batavia. The fest includes free fitness seminars, prevention screenings and more. See WellBatavia.com for more details.
The Artisan Collective provides downtown Batavia with pop-up market experiences featuring local artisans offering a variety of handmade goods and vintage items. The Artisan Collective joins the Batavia Farmer’s Market every third Saturday, June through October, with local talented artisan vendors selling original artwork, woodworks, macrame, vintage finds & more.
A special thank you to Gerald Subaru of North Aurora and Metronet, Presenting Sponsors of the Batavia Farmers’ Market for their continued support. Batavia MainStreet is a not-for-profit, community-based organization devoted to enhancing downtown Batavia’s identity as the heart of the community through dedicated volunteer efforts. Our vision is to help create a unique and vital downtown that enriches the business community, embraces history, celebrates the arts, preserves our natural environment, and promotes quality events to instill a ‘sense of place’ in our community.
The Batavia Farmers’ Market features 50 vendors each week. Find a listing of each week’s vendors at downtownbatavia.com. Follow Batavia Farmers’ Market on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and news. The Batavia Farmers’ Market season will continue through October 29 on N. River Street every Saturday morning from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm. For more information visit downtownbatavia.com.