Gwen Strutzenberg was not sure she would participate in the annual Evergreen Park Farmers Market this year.
Strutzenberg is a familiar face at the annual farmers market, which opened for the season on May 7 in the vast parking lot of Yukich Fields at 89th and Kedzie. Her business is called “Gwen’s Garden Plates” and she designs a variety of plates in various themes and colors for show or decorations in local yards.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to do it again this year,” said Strutzenberg, who is in her 10th year of taking part in the market. “But then I started working on them to prepare for this in April. Now that I’m out here again, I realized how fun it is. It was a little cold but I sold 12 already. I like to come home with less than I brought here.”
Strutzenberg, who lives just a couple of blocks away from the market, said she would be there for most of them this spring and summer unless it becomes extremely hot.
The Evergreen Park Farmers Market is traditionally the first to open for the season in the southwest suburbs. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizens’ Services that oversees the market, said that the first in the area was the 95th Street Farmers Market in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, which began on May 3.
But Novotney added that Evergreen Park usually begins before everyone else in the suburbs because some of the vendors request it so flowers and plants can be sold for Mother’s Day. Many customers were purchasing Mother’s Day planters.
One of those vendors was Dotson’s Farm, which is based out of Beecher. They had a large display of flowers and plants available for customers to look over and purchase. They have been at the market for several years.
“Everything is going OK today,” said Katie Pickert, who works for Dotson’s Farm along with her husband. “The weather is nice and there have been a lot of people here.”
While not all the vendors were present for the first Evergreen Park Farmers Market, Novotney said that they will be welcoming more vendors this year.
Martha’s Kitchen, based out of Shipshewana, Ind., will return to the farmers market later this month. They are noted for their wide selection of pies, cookies, breads, and assorted bakery goods.
A new entry to the market this year is Pretty Little Carts, which offers mini pancakes, toppings, fruits, and desserts. Vanessa Gallardo is the owner. She said they will be at the market every week through October.
“I have done this at private parties and this is the first time at a farmers market,” said Gallardo, who lives in Merrionette Park. “We decided to try this and it is going well. In the future we may have our own place. But we will try this first.”
Gallardo spent most of the morning getting acquainted with visitors while offering free samples of mini pancakes.
Besides flowers, vegetables and bakery items, the market offers an assortment of other food and products, including Bosco’s All Natural Dog and Cat Treats, Villa’s Nuts and Candy, Ever Pure Organics, Colorful Berries, D’Olivia’s Fashions, Homegirls Hummus, and Nissa’s Nana Pudding and More.
The El Coyote Mexican Restaurant in Alsip has been present at the market for years. They were serving visitors from their food truck. Novotney said that more vendors will be coming every week.
“This is the time of the year for people to start decorating their yards,” said Strutzenberg, who grew up in Evergreen Park. “This farmers market is good for me because it is convenient. The people are all so friendly. I just love it.”
The Evergreen Park Farmers Market will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday through October.
