Last Call for The Promenade's Farmers Market

Farmers markets are one of the lasting legacies of the 1980s dot.com-era. Their roots can be traced to the San Franscisco Bay Area.

Thirty years ago, “yuppies” flush in disposable income that sought to improve the quality of their food unknowingly hastened the “buy fresh, buy local” movement.

Although the dot.com’s have all but evaporated, farmers markets continue to flourish.

In Bolingbrook, a partnership between and the event management company Make It Happen DuPage brings the concept right outside our door.

The Promenade will hold its last market today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“The market features many food vendors selling homegrown or homemade products,” said Mary Nurse, marketing director of Make It Happen DuPage. “We have produce, Amish-baked good, organic soaps and lotions, homemade pesto, gourmet pies, olive oils, fresh-made kettle corn, honey, farm-fresh eggs, chicken, pork, gelato, Italian breads, take home pizzas and freshly made pasta, jams and jellies.”

Martin Cingle, owner of specialty gourmet baked goods shop Lil Mad Café in Westmont, said he is a firm believer in farmers markets.

Each summer he and his young daughter, Martia, take their shop on the road, which strengthens both his business and his relationship with his daughter.

A seasoned vendor, Martin Cingle offers these tips to market shoppers.

• Go with an open mind. Don’t make a plan until after you’ve seen what’s there.
• If you can, jot down what’s available and go home and think about what you can do with the produce. Then go back and make your purchases.
• Try something new. Ask the farmer who grew it and his or her ideas on favorite ways to prepare it.
• Ask questions. If you’re not sure what something is, just ask.

Bolingbrook resident Shirley Japlon was shopping at the mall and said she wandered over to the market out of curiosity.

“This is such a wonderful enhancement to town," she said. "I’ve lived here 17 years and I’m amazed that they keep adding things."