Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Zeldenrust Farm Market is a family owned and operated business that has been in the Chicago area since 1969.
Tommy Stallinga, 19, of Lansing, has worked at Chicago Heights-based Zeldenrust Farm Market for the last three years. He's a friend of the family that runs the farm stand and was at the Oak Forest Farmers Market on Tuesday selling the operation's produce. Oak Forest Patch borrowed a few minutes of his Oak Forest Patch: What makes Zeldenrust special? Stallinga: We do flowers, too. We have a greenhouse. We start planting in February and we do flowers up until the first week in June. Then we start planing produce. We have the green house and fields in back with a farm stand up front. Me and two other guys do a lot of the farming. Patch: Are flowers your speciality? Stallinga: I think it's kind of split. This year, we did really well in …
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dianne Johnson talks about Jerky Junky and the freshly made products they sell at the Oak Forest Farmers Market.
Dianne Johnson of Orland Park took a few minutes on a lovely Tuesday afternoon to talk with Oak Forest Patch about beef jerky. Jerky Junky is a family owned and operated business that sells homemade jerky. Here's what Johnson had to say about this dried meat snack: Oak Forest Patch: What kind of products do you offer? Johnson: This is homemade beef jerky in various flavors. There's teriyaki, honey barbecue, garlic pepper, chipotle. Those are the biggest sellers. Those are the main flavors. Patch: How did you get into the beef jerky business? Johnson: My husband and son do it and I'm here at the market for them. They make it at home. Patch: What inspired you husband and son into the jerky business? Johnson: They just wanted to try to start …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Virginia Williams sells products from the Oak Park-based company Annie's at the Oak Forest Farmers Market.
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 Park District's Central Building 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 …
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
After a successful season with a refreshed farmers market, Oak Forest Park District Commissioner hopes you'll tell him what you liked—and didn't like—about this year's market.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Lauren Traut
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Oak Forest Park District Commissioner Joe Conway dreams of a farmers market to rival others in the area. There are vendors, and crafters, and shoppers—oh my! Beginning with an initial test-run in late August, Conway tried his hand at an Oak Forest farmers market. He hoped it would grow into a community staple, and as he recently told Patch, he was pleasantly surprised with the warm welcome from the community. Each week, the market grew in size and attendance, attracting nearly 40 vendors and steady foot traffic. Conway tinkered with the vendor list and balance between consumable goods and crafts, leaning more heavily toward the consumable, with a 60-40 split. Parking was sometimes tight, and Conway relied on Acorn Public Library for …
41.5767
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Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/a-thank-you-from-the-oak-forest-farmers-market-crew
1353737
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Shoppers, don't miss your last chance to visit the Oak Forest Farmers Market, Tuesday, Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Oak Forest Park District parking lot.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Lauren Traut
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Need some veggies or spices for dinner tonight? How about fresh dressings or marinades? Skip the grocery store, and head to the Oak Forest Farmers Market instead. The Oak Forest Park District will host a farmers market every Tuesday through Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the parking lot of the Central Park building. Shoppers can enjoy fresh produce, herbs, flowers, watermelon, peaches, corn, honey, homemade soaps, jams, olive oils, cheese, eggs, salsa, honey, teas and fresh bakery items as well as cosmetics, jewelry and craft items.
41.5767
-87.741
Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/don-t-forget-last-farmers-market-of-the-season-tuesday
1353737
/locations/5664089
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Shoppers will have two more chances to visit the Oak Forest Farmers Market, Tuesday, Oct. 18 and Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Oak Forest Park District parking lot.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Lauren Traut
-
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Need some veggies or spices for dinner tonight? How about fresh dressings or marinades? Skip the grocery store, and head to the Oak Forest Farmers Market instead. The Oak Forest Park District will host a farmers market every Tuesday through Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the parking lot of the Central Park building. Shoppers can enjoy fresh produce, herbs, flowers, watermelon, peaches, corn, honey, homemade soaps, jams, olive oils, cheese, eggs, salsa, honey, teas and fresh bakery items as well as cosmetics, jewelry and craft items. Oak Forest Patch Facebook fans definitely have their favorite products and vendors at the market. Check these out:
41.5767
-87.741
Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/don-t-forget-only-two-more-farmers-markets-this-season
1353737
/locations/5614563
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Head over to the Oak Forest Park District for this week's farmers market, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Lauren Traut
-
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Need some veggies or spices for dinner tonight? How about fresh dressings or marinades? Skip the grocery store, and head to the Oak Forest Farmers Market instead. The Oak Forest Park District will host a farmers market every Tuesday through Oct. 25 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the parking lot of the Central Park building. Shoppers can enjoy fresh produce, herbs, flowers, watermelon, peaches, corn, honey, homemade soaps, jams, olive oils, cheese, eggs, salsa, honey, teas and fresh bakery items as well as cosmetics, jewelry and craft items.
41.5767
-87.741
Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/dont-forget-oak-forest-farmers-market-tuesdays-through-end-of-october
1353737
/locations/5278551
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
With weather a bit more pleasant than the first time around, shoppers turned out steadily throughout Tuesday's farmers market.
The weather played nice this time around for the second Oak Forest Farmers Market. The rain held off and more businesses set up shop, featuring everything from fruits and veggies to crafts. "There was a consistent, steady flow of traffic," said Oak Forest Park District Commissioner Joe Conway. "That's really what you want to see." Tuesday's market featured 34 vendors—two more than anticipated and several more than last week. Vendors this week were still pleased with the turnout, though it did drop slightly from last week's, Conway said. The market continues to be a trial-and-error process for Conway. One vendor, for instance, was displeased with her location within the market, telling Conway she would do better business in a different …
41.5767
-87.741
Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/new-vendors-steady-traffic-keep-farmers-market-fresh-in-second-week
1353737
/locations/5233403
Thursday, August 25, 2011
After a successful debut, the Oak Forest Park District will offer a repeat farmers market Tuesday, Aug. 30 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Oak Forest Park District hosted such a successful event, several vendors as well as residents requested a immediate return. The next farmers market will be held Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 3 p.m to 7 p.m. The event again will be held at the south end of the park district's main parking lot along Central Avenue (15600 S. Central Ave.). A number of volunteers have been diligently working on all of the farmers market events. The goal is to establish a weekly market beginning each spring, held every Tuesday through October 2011. Please mark your calendars today to make a point to stop by and visit the market. Your presence will continue to ensure the future success and growth of this market. —Oak Forest Park District
41.5767
-87.741
Oak Forest Park District
15601 S. Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/farmers-market-will-return-aug-30
1353737
/locations/5189673
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Despite a stormy afternoon, shoppers were pleased with the pickin's and vendors were stunned to sell out.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Lauren Traut
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011
What started out as a one-time only Oak Forest Farmers Market test run, turned into a resounding—albeit rainy—success that could be returning as early as next week. The market would run every Tuesday through October. "It was a huge success," said Oak Forest Park District Commissioner and event organizer Joe Conway. "I was just amazed. With all the rain we had today, people had every reason not to be there. "I was simply amazed." The day's stormy weather raised a few eyebrows of concern early on, as vendors called Conway worried about turnout and a successful sales day. Then, one by one, Conway watched the vendors pull into the parking lot at the park district building. Around 3 p.m., the crowds started trickling in, umbrellas inhand. The …
Nick Swedberg
9:07 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@Robin—No problem. I think you're right about the heat. I talked with a few vendors during the heat wave who said something like that. more ›