Farmers Market Kicks off Summer Season

Bright blooming flowers lined the entrance of 's parking lot Thursday as the first day of the marked the village's warm welcome to summertime.

The Farmers Market drew vendors from across the Chicago area and as far away as Beetown, Wisc.

Among the 20 vendors present, a few were there for the first time, like Angela Beckefeld, owner of Divine Delights Homemade Chocolate Turtles, 8729 S. California Ave.

"I need to get my name out there in my own community," said Beckefeld, who's lived in Evergreen Park for nearly eight years, but owned the business for the last year and a half.

Rich Olosch from Stamper Cheese Company, 834 W. Fulton in Chicago, made the trek from downtown to participate in this year's Farmers Market for the first time. He said the company regularly sells at farmers markets across the Chicago area.

"We come every year," said Marge Christensen of Tinley Park-based Christensen Popcorn. She said her company has been participating in the Evergreen Park Farmers Market for most of its years in existence.

, who organizes the Farmers Market, and serves as Director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizens Services, said she expects a few more vendors throughout the season. "We had a good turn out today," Churak said Thursday.

"We anticipate about 25, 26," said Churak. "As the season grows, the people grow."

The Village of Evergreen Park Farmers Market runs Thursdays 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. through the end of October at 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue, the Yukich Field parking lot.

Keep an eye out for Patch this summer at the Farmers Market!