Grow fresh produce? The Champaign County Farmer’s Market needs you

The Champaign County Farmer’s Market offers visitors a wide range of products — bee honey, homemade jewelry, pretzels and bean bags for cornhole. But it’s in need of beefing up one more thing.

“What we’re short on … is produce vendors,” said Jeff Conley, president of the market and owner of Conley’s Sweets. “We have regulars come every weekend, hunting for the same things. What people really want more is more produce — more locally grown produce.”

Conley said there are about 17 to 20 vendors every Saturday, but the market has enough room for up to 33 vendors.

The produce that’s wanted doesn’t have to come from a farm or large scale operation and isn’t limited to one specific type.

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“Asparagus, cabbage, sweet corn — any kind of produce,” he said. “They can right out of the garden at your house. Bring that produce and put a little extra cash in your pocket.”

About 19 cents of every dollar spent at a grocery goes back to the people who make it, compared to direct re-circulation at a farmer’s market, according to the Champaign County Farmer’s Market.

Vendors who live outside Champaign County are also welcome to come and sell their products. The only requirement is that 90 percent of what’s sold has to be personally grown or made by hand.

Conley said people can rent 10-by-10-foot spaces for $10 for just one Saturday, $30 for half the season or $50 for the whole season. The market offers free electricity if needed, but it does ask vendors to bring their own tables.

Interested vendors can either show up at the Champaign County Farmer’s Market on Saturday or contact Conley ahead of time at 937-508-8586.

The market is located at East Market and Locust Streets in downtown Urbana and runs from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday beginning in May until the last weekend in October.

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