Kara Gowin remembers her experience at the very first Deerfield Farmers Market 25 years ago. She was a teenager helping her mother sell fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers to customers as part of the family business, Noffke Family Farms of Coloma, Mich.
“My mom brought me the day after my prom, and I’ve been back every Saturday since,” Gowin said.
The Farmers Market opened its 25th season Saturday, June 15, in its traditional location in the parking lot at the corner of Deerfield Road and Robert York Avenue. It continues each Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Oct. 12, offering fresh produce and specialty foods.
Gowin said returning each week for 25 years has helped her develop a relationship with customers and market personnel, knowing their tastes. She looks forward to greeting them each week.
“I’ve grown up at the Deerfield Farmers Market,” Gowin said. “I got to know all the families and their children. (Former Market Manager) Joan Reed was like a second mother to me. She made sure I got home and I got here.”
Reed, who was the founding manager of the market and ran it each season until she retired three years ago, said part of the original purpose was creating excitement in downtown Deerfield as well as a community gathering place.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years,” Reed said. “I’m so pleased it has become a staple of downtown Deerfield in the summertime. It’s a place where families meet up. It’s really blossomed. It’s nice to see.”
Working with Reed at the beginning were Pat Jester and Tom Jester, who were working the information booth as volunteers Saturday. They too called the market a community treasure that has grown to become a community gathering place. Tom Jester is a village trustee.
Nancy Anderson, who became the market manager three years after Reed retired, said Noffke is one of three vendors who have been at the market since it first opened. The other two are Big John’s Farm Market and Greenhouses of Chicago Heights and Walt Skibbe Farms from southwest Michigan.
Anderson said the purpose of the market goes beyond providing a place for folks to purchase fresh produce and specialty foods — it is a meeting place with activities for children, entertainment and a variety of special events throughout the summer and early fall.
Eric Yukon was selling produce and flowers on opening day at Big John’s stand. He said he is part of the fourth generation of the family farm. His wife is the great-granddaughter of the founder. He said he has been working the booth for the last six years.
“Deerfield still has the farmers market feel,” Yukon said. “Customers are very loyal.”
Flora Reznik of Northbrook was one of the people purchasing products at Big John’s.
“Our family likes farm-to-table (produce), and that’s what we find here,” Reznik said.
With rain forecast much of the day — though Anderson said it did not fall until the last 30 minutes — weather was a topic of conversation among the farmers. Yukon said there has been some crop loss because of weather. Gowin said some planting has been delayed, but it is too early to tell the full impact on the season.
Along with providing a place for shopping, the market has different entertainment each week, including music and children’s activities. Anderson said new this year are a peanut vendor, an olive stand, a new organic farmer and rotating coffee providers.
Special events are also scheduled including a 25th anniversary celebration Aug. 25, a pie baking contest Sept. 14 and Harvest Fest, a daylong event with the village, Sept. 28.
Steve Sadin in a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
