Week seven of Market at the Square is upon us, which means we’re heading toward the middle of June, with its “coming on” of the produce that’s going to knock all of our socks off in July. Seriously, with all this rain and predicted warm temps coming up in the next few weeks, it could be a monster haul later this summer.
Integrating the Market into your grocery shopping routine is good for our local economy, supports local agriculture, and gets the best-tasting (and arguably most nutritious) produce for the money into your hands. Here’s what you’ll see at the Market this week:
Many strawberries, a few blueberries, asparagus (this is on the wane, so chow down) salad greens, turnips, kale, Swiss chard, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, hydroponic and greenhouse tomatoes, radishes, fresh basil (there’s no time like pesto time!), fresh cilantro, other fresh herbs, several different types of goat cheese, farm-raised meats and eggs, baked goods (100% legal, of course), and several types of prepared foods. There’ll also be the usual variety of handmade art and crafts, plants and flowers, and performance.
Events at the Market this week:
Art at the Market: Urbana’s Public Arts Program brings you local artist Renner Larson, who invites you to work on a collaborative oil pastel that explores the theme of what water means to all of us (and that’s fine, as long as it doesn’t rain). The workshop, which will be held on the barricaded area of Walnut Street between the new bike racks and the Market’s NW entrance, is free and all ages are welcome to participate. For more information, call Anna at 384-2311 or email her at alhochhalter@city.urbana.il.us .
June 13 is World Wide Knit in Public Day, so bring your UFOs and hang with the Klose Knit folks as they celebrate by knitting in front of everyone! Don’t know how to knit? They’ll be happy to help you get started. Find them next to the City tent at the NW entrance to the Market.
Get your questions about ZipCar answered; they’ll be at the Market, near the ZipCars (again, near the NW entrance) this weekend.
Finally, after you’re done at the Market, head into downtown Urbana for Second Saturday. This event, sponsored by the Urbana Business Association, gets all the downtown vendors outside, showing off their best stuff. Questions? Call the UBA at 344-3872.
As always, you can contact Market director Lisa Bralts at 384-2319 or at ljbralts@city.urbana.il.us.
See you out there!