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Growing Wicker Park Farmers Market Opens for Summer Season (PHOTOS)

By Alisa Hauser | June 6, 2016 8:44am | Updated on June 6, 2016 11:59am
 Photos from the Wicker Park Farmers Market.
Wicker Park Farmers Market, Summer 2016 Season
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WICKER PARK —  The summer farmers market in Wicker Park's namesake park opened on Sunday, attracting not only locals but some suburbanites, too.

"In Glenview, you can only go to Jewel and Sam's [Club] and Walmart. We want to try different places that have different things," said Penny Helfer, a Glenview resident who was buying a jar of bourbon barrel aged maple syrup from Indiana-based Burton's Maplewood Farm.

Helfer and her friend Mary Wilson, who lives in Bartlett, said they were headed to the Logan Square Farmers Market next.

Located at 1425 N. Damen Ave. — one-half block south of the CTA Damen Blue Line "L" stop — the Wicker Park Farmers Market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 30 in the park.

Hundreds of shoppers were attracted by the fresh veggies, fruit, meat, flowers, jarred pickles and more goodies sold at the market. See the full vendor list.

Brent Norsman, who rode his skateboard to the market around 8:45 a.m., was balancing an armful of flowers and greens.

"It's gaining momentum, getting bigger," Norsman said of the market.

Molly Huber, a staffer at the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, which organizes and promotes the market, said that this year's staple of vendors is larger than last year.

Currently there are 23 vendors, up from 18 last year.

New vendors this year include Humboldt Park-based Metropolitan Farms, which grows greens and raises fish; Brobagel, which sells four varieties of bagels; Dove's Luncheonette, which serves aguas frescas; Bushel & Pecks, Ipsentom, Broad Shoulders BBQ and more.

On Monday, Huber described opening day as "phenomenal," with both new and returning vendors reporting outstanding sales.

"The market was packed from open to close. We track estimated attendance every hour, and we were at about 1,000 total patrons for the day. That's huge for our market — we're a smaller operation, so we usually average about 500 visitors per week," Huber said.

Huber said the market is fortunate to have a strong mix of vendors, the beautiful backdrop of Wicker Park, and an active, engaged community that places a premium on locally- and sustainably-sourced food.

The Ipsento Nitro coffee bike. [Photos by Alisa Hauser/DNAinfo]

Cheese curd sampling at the Stamper Cheese booth.

An array at cookies via Letizia's.

The Bushel & Peck's stand.

Happy flower customers with an arrangement from Garden Offerings.

Shoppers eyeing greens at Nichols Farm & Orchard, one of the largest tents.

Strawberries are back, courtesy of Seedling Fruit.

Shot glass syrup samples.

Bagels from Brobagel.

 

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