New home in ’09

The downtown French market re-opened for the season earlier this month at a new location down the street from last year’s market. The market moved east on St. Charles Road from the parking lot on the southeast corner of St. Charles Road and Elizabeth Street to the block north of St. Charles on Park Avenue. Vendors selling produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses and even freshly made kettle corn line the street every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. now through October.

French, not farmers market

The traditional produce farmers market has shifted to a French market, opening the door to different types of vendors such as Kernel Dan’s Kettle Corn. Dan Imbody handles the weekend markets while brother Dave works the weekday markets including Lombard’s. Imbody makes his product fresh at each market by pouring soybean oil, popcorn kernels and sugar into a large kettle heated by a propane tank. Salt is added when the popcorn is done popping, and Imbody bags his product in a small and large sizes for customers to take home to enjoy their sweet, salty treat. “It’s an attention grabber,” Imbody said. “The smell wafts for blocks.”

Gourmet goods, sweets

Loren Lazzara’s Grand Gourmet Market sells gourmet items including infused honey, soup mixes and salsas at five different markets a week. She said she has noticed the trend of markets going more upscale even with less money in people’s pockets. “Some people don’t care,” Lazzara said. “They’ll buy what they want.” 

Nick Orbell takes bread, scones, cookies, and many other sweet treats baked fresh at Hahn’s Bakery in Geneva to more than a dozen markets a week across the area.


New corn on the horizon

Even with the change in direction, there’s still plenty of produce available. Potatoes, peppers and tomatoes of all sizes, shapes and colors are available thanks to a greenhouse at Kap Farms in southern Illinois.

Brian Jeffery was working the Kap’s tables on what was a slower-than-usual market Tuesday. He said many customers are eagerly awaiting for July when Mirai corn will make it’s Kap Farms debut. Japanese for “taste of the future,” Mirai is a new brand of sweet corn that is edible straight off the stalk.

Jim Hardin from Hardin Farms in Eau Claire, Mich., has freshly picked asparagus and rhubarb for sale, along with previously frozen apple cider. The majority of fresh produce — numerous types of berries, nectarines, peaches and plums — will arrive in late June to early July.

Need more markets?
Lombard’s French market is one of many nearby French or farmers markets held throughout the week. Villa Park holds its French market on Sundays, Elmhurst’s market is on Wednesdays, Glen Ellyn on Fridays, and Wheaton on Saturdays.