Market Focus: Olive Oil & Vinegar All Dressed Up

Virginia Williams of Orland Park has a tasty job. She works for Annie's, an oil, vinegar and spice-mix business. 

Williams is at the Oak Forest Farmers Market, located near the every week, handing out samples made and packaged in an Oak Park-based kitchen to passersby

"It's fun working for (Annie's). You get to taste so many things," Williams said.

Oak Forest Patch took a few minutes between samples to ask a couple of questions about Annie's.

Oak Forest Patch: What kind of products can I get at Annie's?

Williams: We sell flavored olive oils. We sell balsamic dressings, wine vinegars and packaged soups, dips, meatball mixes. It goes on and on and on.

Patch: Where does Annie's whip up all these tasty products?

Williams: Annie's has a kitchen in Oak Park, where all of our products are made–everything that is on this table.

Patch: And just who is this wonderful Annie that you keep talking about?

Williams: Annie is the owner. She's been doing this business for about 22 years. But her family has been doing this their whole lives. She's from Italy and moved here (Illinois) when she was very young. She married Charlie (Meza) and they went into this professionally. Then they moved about 10 years and opened up an Italian restaurant. After closing the restaurant, they came back here for about three years now. They both respect a lot about what they do and they care. I think that's why they do as well as they do.

Patch: Does Annie's mainly sell out of farmers markets?

Williams: She does farmers markets and craft shows. (Specifically, Annie's hits the farmers markets in Tinley Park, Park Ridge, Frankfort, Morris, Alsip and Mount Prospect).

Patch: So, you go around selling Annie's products for them?

Annie will make the products and come to my home to give them to me. Then I go to the farmers markets and I sell it.