Community Corner
OF Farmers Market: Just a Few Weeks Left
The Oak Forest Park District's Farmers Market is coming to a close on Tuesday, Oct. 2. So hustle over to the market on Tuesdays, from 3 to 7 p.m. to grab fresh veggies, veggies and crafts while you can.
Time is running out to get fresh produce, handmade crafts and other goodies from the Oak Forest Park District's farmers market, as the last day of the market, Tuesday, Oct. 2, quickly approaches. The market currently features about 15 vendors every Tuesday, outside the park district's fitness center.
Park District Commissioner Joe Conway said that while the market has been a moderate success this year, traffic has peetered off compared to the first year.
“This summer was year two of the farmers market,” said Park District Commissioner Joe Conway. “As of right now we're down to 15 vendors, though. Last summer I felt like I had to beg and beg to get vendors. … This summer I had a waiting list, but it's dwindled for several reasons.”
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He said that the latter half of the summer was a little slower than hoped for at the market, adding that there were some mitigating factors: extreme temperatures limited parking.
“That's the real whammy, the tail-end of June, it was blaze hot out there,” Conway said. “From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., that time of the day is probably the hottest part of the day. I can understand why people wouldn't want to come out of the air.”
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That being said, Conway noted that work was already underway to find solutions for next year's market.
Conway said that with plans already underway there is one thing he'd like to see happen for next year: a committee of citizens dedicated to the market. People whose jobs it would be to organize, contact vendors and be present for the market on Tuesdays.
He's appreciative of all those who came to the market this summer, and hopes everoyne plans on stopping by before it ends.
“The only way this thing can be successful is if we have the food traffic,” Conway said. “That's something I asking the residents to do, they asked for it. … It really depends on their foot traffic.”
The Oak Forest Park District's Farmer Market is every Tuesday, from 3 to 7 p.m. The final day of the market is Oct. 2, for more information visit the park district's website, here.
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