Murdale Farmer's Market

Typically the Murdale Farmer's Market ends its season today but from what I heard at the market this morning, assuming the weather remains nice, it will run for a couple of more weeks. 

Dunkin' Donuts Closed

Apparently the coronavirus has hit Dunkin' Donuts as a sign on the door says they are closed until further notice. On the other hand, Staples has reopened and I am seeing a lot more people wearing masks in stores. Was at the Carbondale Farmer's Market yesterday and only saw one family wandering the stalls without one.

Westgate for Sale

Big sign posted in from of Westgate Shopping Center, where the Murdale Farmer's Market is located, offering the property for sale. 11 acres of land in case you were wondering. If it sells, hopefully the new owner will allow the Farmer's Market to continue to operate there.

Invest in the Local Economy

, shop at the Murdale Farmers Market (and other local farmers markets). For every $100 you spend at a farmers's market, according to the Farmers Market Coalition, so they may be a bit biased, $62 stays in the local enocomy. Compare that with spending money on food at Schnuck's, Kroger or Wal-Mart, where, if you spend $100, $17-$20 stays locally.

Farmers' Markets Down?

Although there is no research to support it, anecdotal evidence leads the departing head of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance to say that shoppers at farmers' markets in Illinois have dropped significantly over the past few years. Anyone connected with the Murdale Farmers' Market have any thoughts? When I go, crowds seem really good on sunny days and noticeably sparse on cloudy ones.

Farmers Market at 40

The Murdale Farmers Market celebrates 40 years with a ribbon cutting this Saturday. No idea if there will be food. Free food, that is:

The Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will help the Carbondale Farmers Market mark 40 years of service to Southern Illinois with a ribbon cutting, 10 a.m., Saturday, May 23, 2015.
The Carbondale Farmers Market is a Saturday staple for many area residents, offering locally grown fruit, vegetables, plants, herbs, cut flowers and more. The market is located in the parking lot of Westowne Center, 2000-block of West Main Street.
Representatives of the Chamber, City and market will participate in the ceremony. The event is open to the public.

Murdale Farmer's Market

Stopped by the Murdale Farmer's Market this morning and while things were hopping, I was surprised to find a few empty spaces there. Maybe still too early for some of their vendors to have anything to sell yet but still, the Market is normally cheek to jowl with seller booths.

Murdale Farmers Market Events

From a PR sent out by the Carbondale Farmers Market:

On Saturday, August 9, the Carbondale Farmers Market on the city’s west end will celebrate National Farmers Week with plenty of freshly picked produce, live local music and fine art made by local talent. Visitors can expect sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, a wide variety of cherry tomatoes, green beans, potatoes and a whole slew of seasonal summer fruits and vegetables. Aside from fruits and veggies, the market also offers a solid selection of local meats such as grass-fed and -finished beef; bison; pork; and poultry. Folks will also find free-range eggs, locally-grown oyster and shiitake mushrooms and honey. Live music will entertain people as they walk up and down the market thoroughfare while enjoying hot or iced coffee with locally-made baked goods.

Since the USDA declared National Farmers Market Week 15 years ago, the number of farmers markets has more than doubled, from 2,863 markets in 2000 to over 8,000 in 2013.  There are more than 347 farmers markets in Illinois alone. These numbers have continued to rise in 2014 as farmers markets become fresh food mainstays for shoppers across all socio-economic, political, and ethnic ranges. Farmers markets bolster local economies, improve community health, and bring diverse groups of people together through a shared social space. 

The Carbondale Farmers Market was organized in 1975 and currently boasts 27 farming families who sell a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods and more. Many of these families have been farming for three and four generations. Others have just started. All work hard to grow good food for local markets. People who shop at the Carbondale Farmer’s Market help to support these hardworking family farmers while keeping money circulating in the local economy.

“Farmers markets grow healthy farms, healthy people, and healthy communities” says Pat Stieren, Executive Director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association.  “During a slow economic recovery, farmers markets are stand-out successes in delivering triple bottom line benefits while making entrepreneurship work in communities large and small.  During Farmers Market Week, we invite everyone to celebrate their local farmers markets and enjoy fresh local food from America’s most innovative farmers.”

On Tuesday, August 5, Carbondale Mayor Don Monty will read a proclamation announcing the city’s support of National Farmers week during the city council meeting.

A week earlier on Saturday, August 2, the market will honor its customers during Customer Appreciation Day. The event will feature Chef Bill Connors and crew, who will grill fresh, marinated veggies and meats for folks to sample during Saturday’s market. Chef Bill, the head chef for Southern Illinois University Housing, knows how to feed a crowd and has always been a popular presence at the market. Chef Bill is great at answering questions about how to use and prepare the food that people can get at the market. The market invites all and one to visit and try some of the free grilled food samples on from 8 am to noon on Saturday, August 2.

Year Round Farmers Market

There will be a public meeting to discuss the possibility of a permanent location for a year-round farmers market tomorrow night, June 3, at 7 p.m at the Civic Center.

For those who don't know, there are two farmers markets in Carbondale that operate Saturday morning, the decades old one that operates on the west side of town and the more recent one that sets up in the Carbondale Community High School parking lot during spring through fall and moves inside during the winter months. Councilwoman Jane Adams has a post with her thoughts on her blog.

From what I understand, the plan would be, ideally, to find or construct a location large enough for both markets to set up and weatherproof to allow them to operate 52 weeks a year. The Civic Center is a possibility but Saturdays require an all day rental, rather than just the morning. I don't think the Civic Center is large enough to house both markets comfortably, either.

I have not ventured inside the CCHS building in several years so, while the parking lot is certainly large enough to accommodate two markets, I do not know about the interior so have no idea if the combined markets could fit inside.

Possibly University Mall? I have seen successful farmer markets set up inside of malls before and the empty Food Court at UM has quite a bit of unused space, though many of the tables and chairs would need removing.

Another option are the two vacant lots in downtown along the railroad tracks where Southern Recycling and Peerless Laundry used to sit. It would certainly be nice to have something built there and a farmers market would draw people into downtown, something the city council has said is of great importance to them. Parking might be an issue, as both of the current markets have access to large amount of it and moving them into one location could tax available parking. Plus, from where would the money for construction come? The city is operating under budgetary constraints as it is, recently passing sales tax increases to cover costs, so likely does not have the funds available to embark on an ambitious building plan.

Farmer's Market Opens

I assume you already knew this, but if you did not, the Murdale Farmer's Market opens for business this Saturday.  This early in the season, most likely just flowers, bedding plants and maybe some hothouse grown produce. Rain should be over by then but likely to be a bit cool.

More Booze for You

Overlooked in the discussion about the neighborhood business districts was this vote on allowing microbreweries and distilleries to set up shop within the city limits.  Council also voted to allow a tasting booth at the Murdale Farmers Market, but it must be kept separate from the rest of the market so that impressionable children and dogs are exposed less to Ol' Devil Alcohol with no sales allowed and only one company allowed to set up a tasting booth per week.  Anyone know how the Farmer's Market plans to allocate the weekly tastings?

Winter Farmer's Market

Looks as if we have a Winter Farmer's Market starting in the cafeteria of Thomas School the weekend after the Murdale Farmer's Market shuts down. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 1 through March 23.

Farmer's Market

According to the recent post on Facebook, the Murdale Farmers Market will open March 31, about a week earlier than normal.  Appears the warmer than average winter has encouraged early growth enough that spring greens and herbs are already available.