The local chapter of Moms4Moms, a non-profit group that helps area women showcase their businesses, offered its second Veggie Fest Saturday at Phillips Park in Aurora.
According to organizers, more than half the vendors were showcasing food, herbs, microgreens and other naturally-based items with others selling products from soaps to real estate services.
Jamie Rudder of Oswego was one of the food vendors overseeing Vital Superfoods of Woolley Farm which features microgreens.
“The fest, it goes right to the source people are looking for, people who want to be healthy or vegetarian,” she said. “This is definitely the source people are looking for – the raw vegetables. Half the people that stop by don’t know what microgreens are and so it’s a very educational experience. It’s a new idea for them and people don’t realize things like sunflower are edible and that it has a complete protein.”
Co-founder of the local Moms4Moms group Jen Mendoza of Aurora said the second annual event “was open to any woman-owned business whether they have a brick-and-mortar or have an online business” and that it focused on vegetarian or vegan and natural products.
“This doesn’t exclude businesses that necessarily aren’t vegan or whatever,” Mendoza said. “We tried to find businesses that are in that type of category but still have businesses like chiropractors and others. We do have a couple of farmers and microgreens as well as some businesses that are focused on natural health remedies, plus natural ingredients for body care, and chemical free, all-natural products.”
Sponsors for the event included Gillerson’s Grubbery in Aurora, Cinnaholic in Naperville and Ellen Violet Sewing Studio in Sugar Grove.
Sewing studio owner Ellen Violet Svehla said she herself is vegan and when she heard about the theme of the fair Saturday “it was a no-brainer.”
“I’m always trying to get others to see how exciting plant-based eating is,” she said. “I’m always trying to encourage folks about the awesomeness of eating plants. Putting my business name behind this event was so exciting to do.”
Svehla spoke about the mission of the Moms4Moms group and said that “supporting any small businesses is important.”
“I’m a small business owner myself and I’ll especially support businesses that are vegan,” she said.
Mendoza’s partner Joni Choudhary was stationed at the front of the pavilion Saturday and said the number of vendors who came “was more than 50.”
“We’ve actually had 75 at one time, but this is our first time at Phillips Park. I really like how big the pavilion is,” Choudhary said. “This is the first pavilion we’ve ever been able to fit people into, so we’re really happy about that.”
Visitors of all ages were seen moving from booth to booth including Jeanelle Huebner of Aurora who came with her husband Gordon and daughter Emmy and said she saw the event on Facebook “and that it seemed like a really good event for the community.”
“The Moms4Moms program I really like and a veggie fair, I’m all about that,” she said. “I’m vegetarian and so this is really my jam. I think as far as the model and helping women, any time you can help people to build their business and become a bigger part of the community, I think that’s great. We have great examples of that in Aurora. Any time we can help I think that’s awesome.”
Lauren Antoniolli of Aurora said she “became a vegetarian about two years ago” and that she was invited to check out the fest Saturday with “one of my neighbors who is also vegetarian.”
“So far, I got a lot of free things that people were giving away but we’re going to walk around and check things out,” she said. “I also like the idea behind this and the promoting of women – I could be one of these people one day.”
Nadalyn Williams, also of Aurora, said she was vegan as well as “looking for some information about health benefits and a healthy lifestyle as well as food.”
“I’m also looking at some soaps and different items that are natural products,” she said. “I like that this is something more personal. I feel like they (vendors) can explain and give information that will make me more interested in buying a product and having that personal connection with people and what they’re selling.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
