40 vendors took part in the 2023 season opener of the Winnetka Farmers Market on Saturday, June 3 at the corner of Green Bay Road and Oak Street at the Winnetka train station, it’s newest home starting last season.
The season runs rain or shine each Saturday morning through Oct. 28. June 3 saw a busy midway on a banner opening day.
“It takes a village and we work in concert with the Village of Winnetka and the Winnetka Park District,” said Rockey Flintermann of Three Oaks, Michigan, a member of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce and farmers market manager.
Flintermann, also past president of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, said initially the farmers market was relocated from Northfield to Winnetka to a parking lot adjacent to Winnetka Village Hall — across from the current location — in approximately 11,000 square feet.
“And then, as luck would have it, COVID hit, COVID was the best thing that could have happened to our market,” Flintermann said. “The village shuttered everything, no beaches, no restaurants, no fun except this (the farmers market) was proclaimed to be an essential business by our governor.
“And so, we were the only game in town,” Flintermann said. “We started to get an audience and we never experienced that much of an audience before.”
Then came the opportunity to move to the actual train station lot last year, making 2023 the second year of the train lot location.
“This is twice the size,” Flintermann said. “And we set attendance records last year.”
Last year’s attendance over the 22 week season was estimated at more than 37,000 people with an increase in attendance anticipated this year to about 40,000.
“If we keep bringing in quality vendors and everyone of these is a quality vendor … we bring in quality vendors, people will build a path to our door,” Flintermann said. “They just will.”
Flintermann also pointed out that the market is one of few dog friendly farmer’s markets in the area, giving dog owners even more reason to come browse selections while their pet gets to tag along.
Terry Dason of Winnetka, executive director of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, noted Saturday’s turnout was terrific.
“What we have found out through surveys … is that people that travel into our market from all over the North Shore, 80% of them stay within the village and they go shopping or dining,” Dason said. “And that is a really great thing for our community because all of our businesses are thriving as a result of the market.”
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Dason added. “We’re trying to build the community into a place that people want to live and stay and spend time and so that’s what the market is helping to do.”
Flintermann and Dason said while most shoppers come from ZIP code 60093, the market draws regulars from Evanston, Wilmette, Glenview, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Highland Park.
“And this is word-of-mouth,” Flintermann said of the market’s growing grassroots popularity.
Saturday included jazz music by the group, College, made up of local young adult musicians.
Henry Barwise, 20 months, of Glencoe danced to their sounds.
“He loves it, anytime he can dance and we can get outside in the warm, beautiful weather, it’s a good time for us,” said Henry’s mother Allie Barwise.
From Glencoe on Saturday were patrons Tamara Dempsey, Jennifer Balestrery and Karen Arenson, president of the Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce.
“This location is amazing,” Arenson said. “We’re central to all of the North Shore.”
Balestrery heard praise about the market from Arenson, “So here I am,” Balestrery said with a smile.
Dempsey was here, “to support the community, it’s important.”
Dempsey bought flowers from Skyfall Flowers vendors Tania Cubberly and Adam Lemieux of Grayslake. The flowers by Skyfall Flowers are grown in Old Mill Creek, just north of Gurnee in Lake County.
“It’s busy,” Cubberly said of the Winnetka Farmers Market.
Kristen Lipsey of Wilmette and daughter Ellie Lipsey, 18, a 2023 New Trier Township High School graduate, also purchased blooms from Skyfall Flowers.
Mother and daughter were happy, “to support local businesses,” Ellie said. “The flowers are beautiful.”
Ryan and Alex Krusko of Winnetka brought their daughter Avery, 1, and made a purchase from Six Generations’ Farmin’ Local which features produce from northern and southern Illinois, and also Wisconsin and Kentucky.
“I grew up in Winnetka and we didn’t have this in Winnetka when I grew up so it’s so fun to have it and enjoy with her,” said Alex Krusko, of the 2006 Class at New Trier Township High School. “It’s so busy.”
Lucio Delgado, representing vendor Six Generations’ Farmin’ Local, said, “It’s important to buy locally because we can help each other.”
Learn more about the Winnetka Farmers Market at https://wngchamber.com/farmersmarket/.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
