Scheduled to operate into late summer and early fall, the farmers markets in Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City closed early this season as their organizer seeks ways to grow next summer.
The Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City farmers markets ceased 2023 operations effective Sunday in their respective locations as scheduling vendors at the three locations grew more difficult.
After opening a farmers market in North Chicago last summer, organizer Michael Brankin started Waukegan and Park City in June, bringing fresh produce and other foods to communities which had not had them in years.
Brankin said he averaged between eight and 12 vendors each week at all three locations — the Waukegan Harbor & Marina, the Foss Park District in North Chicago and Betty Limbrunner Park in Park City — but hoped for more. Crowds slowed in recent weeks.
“There was a decrease in vendor availability,” Brankin said. “School stated, and less people were coming out. We’re going to work on making things better for next year.”
Maryam Wood, the owner of Wadsworth-based Middleton’s Preserves, said she sold her jams and preserves made from locally grown fruit at all three markers, as well as several others in the area. She will be back next year.
“We need to get the right dynamic so the community will come and support it,” Wood said. “We need to get the community more involved. It’s about cultivating vendors. They look at the bottom line.”
When the markets opened in June, Brankin said he hoped to eventually have as many as 24 vendors based on preliminary commitments from sellers. Those numbers did not materialize.
Waukegan opened June 7 and was scheduled to operate each Wednesday through Sept 13. North Chicago started its second year June 4 and was planned be open Sundays until Sept. 3. Park City began selling produce Saturdays on June 10 and was slated to go until Oct. 14.
Though Brankin said the markets had to close sooner than anticipated, there were successes to build toward next year. The goal is bringing fresh and healthy foods to people in underserved areas, he said.
“We launched Park City and Waukegan,” Brankin said. “They have not had anything like this in at least 20 years. We got it off the ground and that was a success.”
Another success was a program accepting payment on Link cards from people on government-supported food assistance programs, and matching the purchase to double the value for those customers.
“In North Chicago, we had a meat vendor,” Brankin said. “Customers used their Link card to buy meat, and were able to get produce for free.”
Unlike long-running farmers markets in Deerfield, Lake Bluff and Evanston, which are run by the municipalities or receive strong support from the town government, the markets in Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City get little or no backing from those cities. Brankin said he welcomes such support.
“We’d love to partner with them,” Brankin said. “A farmers market brings people and money to the community.”
Wood said she sees a difference in privately run farmers markets and those with municipal backing. She is a vendor at both kinds and would be happy to have help from the official leadership in Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City.
“Government support can make a difference when leadership takes the lead,” Wood said. “That helps you get community buy in.”
