Farmers market continues to grow

     Coal City’s farmers market—Market Fresh on Broadway—continues to expand with new vendors.
    The next market is set for Saturday, Aug.  26, and will feature home grown and handcrafted items from 15 vendors.
    Hosted by the village of Coal City, the market is designed to provide area residents with locally grown produce and locally sourced products.
    Since its inception last summer, the market has continued to grow with new vendors and shoppers. Coal City’s farmers market provides shoppers with an opportunity to not only purchase locally grown produce and handcrafted items, but it offers residents a location to try new foods  and exercise routines, and access unique products. It also provides a stage to spotlight local talent.
    Organizers have scheduled a full day of activities on Saturday.
    The market will open at 8 a.m. in Campbell Memorial Park. Vendors and activities will continue until 1 p.m.  
    The Coal City-based Backwoods BBQ trailer will be serving its specialty sandwiches until sold out.
    Individuals interested in zumba will have an opportunity to take part in a free class presented by  Melissa Morris with the Morris Area YMCA.  The free class will get started at 10 a.m. in the park gazebo.
    Music for the market will be provided by vocalist Destiny Barrus from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
    New to this week’s market is Tonya’s Trikes and More offering handcrafted baby gift baskets that come in many shapes and sizes from four wheelers and planes to butterflies and cupcakes.
    Other vendors include:
    • Albo Acres—Alpaca fiber, yarn, figures, hats, gloves, socks, shoe inserts, dryer balls, blankets, purses, sweaters, and more.
    • Apisera Craftworks—Herbs, plants and vegetables.
    • Candy and Corn—Snow cones, gourmet and buttered popcorn, cookies, candy, praline nuts and cotton candy.
    • Dom’s Italian Ice—The food truck will roll in for a second market with multiple flavors of Italian ice and fozen cheesecake on a stick.
    • Little Farm on the Prairie—Natural cage free eggs laid on a state licensed farm in Saunemin.  Eggs will be sold by members of the Coal City Soccer Club.
    • M&M Specialties Custom Bake Shoppe—Muffins, cookies, breads, kringla, cakes, pies, scones and cupcakes in a jar.
    • Milkman Cafe—Pre-packaged foods including braised beef, roasted sweet potatoes and protein bars. Samples will be available.
    • Nettle Creek Lavender Farm—Lavender sprays, sachets, lip balm, lotions, soap, dried bouquets, plants and other combinations of lavender paired with scents. This is their final scheduled visit to the market.
    • Perkins Farm—Variety of garden grown vegetables.
    • Sunny Bee Farm—Fresh honey produced in Coal City. Available in one and two pound bottles.
    • Three Sisters Produce—Jams, jellies, spices, baked goods, vegetables and teas.
    • Two Crafty Ladies—Handcrafted key chains, hooded character bath towels, duster mitts, memory bears and more.
    • Stella’s Serendipity—Natural, food based body scrubs, bath bombs and related products.
    • Wills Family Farm—Sweet corn.
    Market Fresh on Broadway is sponsored by the village of Coal City, Free Press Newspapers, Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Three Rivers Association of Realtors and Sunshine Garden Center.
    Additional market days are scheduled Sept. 9 and 23.