The 17th season of the annual Northbrook Farmers Market closed on Wednesday, Oct. 8 with a busy turnout under partly sunny skies amid crisp cooler autumn temperatures in downtown Northbrook at the corner of Cherry Lane and Meadow Road.
The Northbrook Farmers Market is operated by the Northbrook Farmers Market Association (NFMA), an all-volunteer, tax-exempt charitable organization.
“I think this was a banner year because having come here for 17 years, the attendance blew away prior years,” said longtime Northbrook Farmers Market customer Deni Kaplan of Northbrook.
“Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week because I come to the farmers market,” Kaplan said with a smile.
At least 25,000 people attended the market season on Wednesdays since the market launched this summer on June 18.
About the 2025 season attendance, “I would say that it says people love this thing, they absolutely love this farmers market,” said Dale Duda of Northbrook, market founder, certified market manager and NFMA president.
“They love the food, they love the community, they love seeing their friends, meeting new friends and just enjoying the outdoors in the middle of our little downtown,” Duda added.
To the volunteers like Duda who make the Northbrook Farmers Market possible, “Thank you,” said patron Adrienne Miller of Northbrook.
“Thank you for bringing it to Northbrook, it’s a real, positive thing,” Miller said.
Called the Closing Day Bash, the Oct. 8 market featured free hot apple cider, an apple tasting challenge with prizes, a scavenger hunt (possibly resulting in $10 gift card prizes), free pumpkin decorating for tots and live music by local musician Steve Zane.
Taking part in the pumpkin decorating amenity was Nino Couri, 15 months, of Northbrook, who was accompanied by his grandparents Steve and Kathy Gianni, also of Northbrook.
Over this farmers market season, “We come as much as we can because he loves seeing everything,” Steve Gianni said about Nino.
Rachel Bassler of Northbrook also decorated pumpkins with twins Camryn and Claire, 2. The market offers early learners a valuable lesson about the role of farmers and where food comes from, Rachel Bassler agreed.
“They love knowing that their food is grown close to home,” the twins’ mother said about Camryn and Claire.
Besides pumpkins and bouquets of vibrant flowers with sunflowers were fresh produce items, including berries, tomatoes, and apples (latter of many varieties).
Northbrook Farmers Market regular Kyle Froehlich of Sunny Harvest Farms in Eau Claire, Michigan, said the growing conditions this year were dry.
“The season went well,” Froehlich said, but, “It was very hot this year.
“The growing season was difficult,” Froehlich added. “We were also in drought, so that kind of made it a challenge.
“We were still able to keep most of our quality with everything, it was that much harder because we were in drought,” Froehlich said.
“Some things did better in the drought because they don’t like to be as wet when they’re growing.”
Examples of these plants such as tomatoes and berries did well, “and then other things struggled too like our sweet corn suffered at the beginning of the year, but overall, it was good,” Froehlich added.
At the booth for Skibbe Farms, also of Eau Claire, Michigan, apples and peaches were big sellers this season, said Blaine Frank, Skibbe Farms farmer.
“We hand sort everything,” said Frank, who urges people, “to do it” when it comes to supporting regional farmers.
“It’s better than paying at a big store,” Frank said.
Many people were seen carrying those large bouquets of flowers to their cars. Customer Linda White of Northbrook chose an autumn hardy bouquet with large marigolds.
Supporting local growers is important, White said.
“You’re usually paying a little bit more but that’s okay,” White said about pricing to reflect local quality.
“Farmers need all the help they can get these days,” White added, “especially now.”
See https://northbrookfarmersmarket.org/.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.