Meet Six Illinois Farmers Markets Ready For You to Be Their Guests

The 25th annual National Farmers Market Week takes place this August 4-10, 2024. Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois coalition member, the Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA) leads the charge for Illinois. 

During National Farmers Market Week, you’ll get to participate in special events, promotions, enjoy seasonal delicacies grown right down the road, and of course, celebrate all things local. 

ILFMA says, “The benefits of buying local are many, including health, preservation of farmland, and most of all, sustaining the economic vitality of the community. Celebrate all things local and shop at your local Farmers Market, an essential, safe, resilient, and especially tasty place to feed your family!”

Many farmers markets around the state accept SNAP/Illinois LINK and participate in the Link Match program, which doubles the value of Link purchases for additional fresh fruits and vegetables. For a downloadable list of participating farmers markets go to https://www.ilfma.org/find-a-market/.

If you’re looking to visit a new market, or perhaps revisit a favorite market, now is the time. August is bursting with seasonal favorite products such as peaches, apples, sweetcorn, and more. Let us help you plan your next market visit with six fabulous Illinois farmers markets, all Buy Fresh Buy Local members, and all ready for you to be their guest: Rockford City Market, Geneseo Farmers Market, Uptown Farmers Market, Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market, Rantoul Farmers Market, and Murphysboro Farmers Market.

Rockford City Market

Rockford City Market, located in downtown Rockford, Illinois, is a Friday evening, rain or shine Market filled with produce, prepared food, music, and more. Founded in 2010 under the planning, leadership, and guidance of the Rock River Development Partnership, the Rockford City Market has grown substantially over the years. With only a few vendors to begin with, the Market now boasts over 70+ vendors that meet under a beautiful pavilion, constructed in Downtown Rockford to offer shade for vendors and a permanent space for the outdoor market.

The 2024 season runs every Friday through September 27th from 4-8:30 p.m. (or 7:30 p.m. after Labor Day). One unique aspect of the Rockford Market is the trolley! In addition to free and convenient vehicle, bike, and boat parking (that’s right, the market takes place right along the Rock River) there is a trolley system you can utilize to get to and from the market. Rockford Mass Transit District provides a FREE trolley between a variety of popular downtown locations and the Rockford City Market from 3:30-10:30 p.m. In addition to the Friday evening Market, the Rockford City Market operates a Saturday morning farmers market from May through October called the North End City Market. You can find a lovely assortment of fresh veggies, flowers, honey, baked goods, and other seasonal items from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. near the intersection of Auburn and North Main.

Learn more about the Rockford City Market here, and be sure to check out their active events schedule on their social media here.

Geneseo Farmers Market

Eating and shopping local in Western Illinois is easier than ever thanks to the Geneseo Farmers Market. With a summer and winter location, the Market offers convenient access to local farmers and makers. The summer market is located on Pearl Street at the Geneseo City Park, operating from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday from June through October. The winter market is located at the Geneseo Moose (1025 S. State St.), with operating hours varying (see their Facebook page for details).

The Geneseo Farmers Market is known as a place for locals to get together, sell fresh produce and homemade baked goods, canned products, handcrafted health and beauty items, artisan goods, fabulous flowers, and pretty plants. “For a small market, we have something for everyone,” says their website.

Learn more about this small but mighty market here, and be sure to check out their social media for details on their winter market, events schedules, and more.

Uptown Farmers Market

Located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, the Uptown Farmers Market, presented by Chicago Market, connects you with the area’s best locally products foods and goods. The market operates rain or shine, 2:30-7 p.m. every Tuesday from May to November in the Sunnyside Mall.

Hear what the organizers have to say: “We share a passion for connecting with others over food that makes us feel great. Our facilities, events, and programs inspire and educate; they celebrate and incubate local food producers and new ideas. Chicago Market, and the Uptown Farmers Market, are joyous places to shop and work, and gather in community.”

A unique feature of the Uptown Farmers Market is their weekly raffle. After every weekly farmers market, the market raffles $25 in Chicago Market Bucks. Winners can use the bucks at any Uptown Farmers Market vendor!

The Uptown Farmers Market also accepts SNAP payments, and offers Link Match, which doubles SNAP benefits for purchases of locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.linkupil.org.

If you’re in Chicago, or traveling to the Windy City, a stop at the Uptown Farmers Market is a must. Keep up with all the Uptown Farmers Market news and happenings on their social media, and learn more about the market here.

Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market

A stop in Central Illinois requires a stop to the Saturday morning farmers market in Downtown Bloomington. The Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market is a producer-only market, offering a wide array of farm products ranging from veggies to free-range poultry. The primary purpose of the market is to help energize the downtown area, and provide a place where the community can learn more about where their food comes from, and the people involved in growing and producing that food. 

Open from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. May through October, the market takes place in the Downtown Square, which includes the streets surrounding the McClean County Museum of History. The season extends beyond October thanks to the oindoor market, which takes place once a month on the third Saturday of the month in November, December, January, February, March, and April inside the Grossinger Motors Arena. 

A fun way to plan your market trip in advance is to use the Downtown Bloomington Farmers Market’s interactive market map. This map allows you to click around from vendor space to vendors space to see who will be attending market, where they will be located, and how to connect with them outside of market day.

Learn more about this Central Illinois gem here, and be sure to check out their social media for upcoming events and timely market information.

Rantoul Farmers Market

Another stop in Central Illinois you should check out is the Rantoul Farmers Market. “The Rantoul Farmers Market has been in operation since 2015 and like a seedling, is growing more each year. Our mission is to provide a community gathering event that augments economic development efforts through a seasonal farmers’ market in downtown Rantoul.” 

The market’s goal is to connect the community with local food growers, producers, and artisans with the local community. The result is a more robust local economy and a wonderful gathering place for everyone in the area. The market operates on Fridays in July, August, and September from 4-7 p.m.

The Rantoul Farmers Market accepts SNAP, offers Link Match, and also hosts a produce delivery program. This unique program includes a pre-order option which they post as a Google form on their social media, and offers delivery service for their fresh market products. How cool is that?

Keep up with the Rantoul Farmers Market on social media, and learn more about the market here.

Murphysboro Farmers Market

Southern Illinois boasts a variety of fabulous farms, a food hub, and farmers markets, including the Murphysboro Farmers Market.

The mission statement of the market is, “The Murphysboro Farmers Market will provide locally grown, high quality fresh produce and locally made hand crafted products to the community.”

Hosted by the City of Murphysboro, the farmers market operates rain or shine on Saturdays from 8-11 a.m. from May to September. The Market is set-up on 12th St, from Walnut St. to Chestnut St. in Smysor Plaza. The Market will run rain or shine. “As you walk through the Market, enjoy the live musicians performing various genres.” A great thing about the musical events at the Murphysboro Farmers Market is that the featured musicians vary from week to week! This offers market-goers a chance to enjoy a variety of musical performance during their weekly market shopping.

Keep connected with the Murphysboro Farmers Market on their social media, or here to get helpful information and details about their market season.

Get Listed with Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois

Are you a farm, farmers market, farm-to-table restaurant, or grocery store that sells local products purchased directly from local farms? Get listed in Illinois’ most trusted guide to local food. Your listing is absolutely free. Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois is a local foods marketing project led by a coalition of organizations across the state working to promote local farms and food businesses like yours. Get listed and start reaching new customers today!