The first-ever Morton Grove French Market launched Saturday on a sunny, 70-degree day at the market’s usual space at 6140 Dempster St.
The market was run by volunteers for its first 10 years, and called simply the Morton Grove Farmers Market. This year, Bensidoun, USA has taken over as the market presenter and changed the name slightly.
There were eight vendors on Saturday, said Abbie Corrigan of Jefferson Park, market manager with Bensidoun, USA Inc.
“We are anticipating growing that, week by week,” Corrigan said. “We are operating at limited capacity due to the current (COVID-19) restrictions.
“We will welcome music, we will welcome pop up events and community groups, absolutely, as a backbone,” Corrigan said about the market’s future.
“We have a big reach with vendors, we just need to get alive and kicking here,” she said.
The market will include concessions when COVID-19 opening procedures allow for it, she said.
Vendor tents were separated by at least 10 feet with coronavirus distance guidelines in mind.
There was hand sanitizer at the monitored gate to the market. Shoppers were required to wear facial coverings to guard against coronavirus transmission.
Patron Ronni Grey of Morton Grove was wearing a bandanna over her face for safety.
“I’ve been coming since the Morton Grove Farmers’ Market started,” Grey said.
Asked about the French market concept, Grey said, “It’s going to be a change, I think, but I’m looking forward to it.
Are farmer’s markets considered to be essential businesses?
“Oh absolutely,” Grey said. “I mean, supporting local, and also the produce. You know it was picked yesterday, especially, I love eggs.
“You know the eggs have been picked three days ago.
“You go to the grocery store, eh, two weeks, a month,” Grey said.
Seniors could enjoy early bird shopping hours from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
“I’m glad they opened, I hope they do better business than the last couple of years,” said patron Carol Macejak of Morton Grove, who shopped for hanging flower baskets and baked goods.
Some of the volunteers who formerly ran the market came to see the new format.
“We had been doing it for 10 years, with all volunteers, and it had just run its course,” said Rich Block of Morton Grove, one of the former farmers’ market managers.
“Being there every Saturday morning, you know, May to October, 6 a.m. until 2 (p.m.) is difficult as a volunteer.
“It’s one thing if it’s a job,” Block said.
Mark V. Matz, director of the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry and president of the Morton Grove Historical Society, said this year’s outdoor market season is taking place, “in a very interesting 2020.
“After 10 years, they (volunteers) wanted a life on summer and fall Saturdays,” Matz said.
“Nobody local was interested in running it.”
From left, olive oil vendor Bill Christakos of Des Plaines answers questions by patrons Eric Brodsky of Morton Grove and also Rich Block of Morton Grove. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Block and Eric Brodsky of Morton Grove, also a former farmers’ market manager, walked around to speak to vendors about SNAP Link usage and benefits for card-holding Illinois patrons.
A returning vendor, John Patyk of Richmond, Illinois in McHenry County, was raised in Morton Grove and graduated from Niles West High School. He decided to become a farmer.
His childhood town is, “nice people, nice town, good, small community,” Patyk said.
Patyk sold fresh eggs, hanging flower baskets and produce such as green garlic. A nearby vendor, Lyons Fruit Farm & Greenhouse of South Haven, Michigan, also sold cold box-type produce with bright rhubarb and asparagus varieties.
On the truck, farmer John Patyk of Richmond, IL. Patyk unloads flower basket choices for Carol Macejak, a Morton Grove resident. Patyk grew up in Morton Grove and graduated from Niles West High School. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St
On Saturday in Morton Grove, vendor Lyons Fruit Farm sold strawberries. There were rare morel mushrooms picked from the wild at $25 per pint.
“It’s very important that people can come out and have access to locally grown produce,” said Chris Kerber of Lyons Fruit Farm & Greenhouse.
“It helps support local farmers, local businesses, it’s good for the community all around,” Kerber said.
Kerber’s colleague Frances Lyons said they left South Haven, Michigan at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday, which was 4:15 a.m. Chicago time.
“We’ve been wanting to get back here so bad and a couple of our markets also cancelled for the season, so we were hoping this one would be on,” Lyons said.
Patrons Ken and Jean Baird of Morton Grove bought rosemary at the Lyons’ stand.
Supporting local, “just gives people an opportunity to help their neighbors,” Ken Baird said.
To the volunteers who produced the former farmers’ market for one decade, “I think it’s fantastic,” said Jean Baird, a lifelong Morton Grove resident and 1970 Niles West High School graduate.
A goal for next year for Bensidoun is to bring in its French colored awnings. These canopies are renowned at plein air markets in France and also seen in Wilmette at its regular French market.
When she heard about the possibility of French canopies, “It’s really exciting,” said vendor Stephanie Rodriguez of Eau Claire, Michigan.
Her stand, Los Rodriguez Farm, sold small and larger greenhouse tomatoes among its produce, plus greenhouse seedless cucumbers.
Flowering baskets, ivy topiary and succulent plants tucked inside tabletop logs were included in the diverse inventory.
Center, Stephanie Rodriguez of Eau Claire, Michigan, rings up at sale at the Los Rodriguez Farm booth. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Olive oil vendor Bill Christakos of Des Plaines brought his bottled inventory to an outdoor Morton Grove market for the first time.
Corrigan, of Bensidoun, acknowledged volunteers for their work to keep the market going for 10 years.
“We’re certainly riding out the great energy and hard work that the volunteers put in,” Corrigan said.
“We want to continue to flourish.”
The Morton Grove French Market operates on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 24.
View market updates at https://www.bensidounusa.com/morton-grove/
Center, with pink face bandana, Carol Macejak, a Morton Grove resident, shops for baked goods. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Examples of greenhouse tomatoes sold on Saturday by Los Rodriguez Farm of Eau Claire, Michigan. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
On far right is vendor and farmer John Patyk of Richmond, IL. Patyk grew up in Morton Grove and graduated from Niles West High School. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
The market has just opened. From left, patron Ken Baird of Morton Grove exchanges a transaction with vendors Chris Kerber and Frances Lyons of Lyons Fruit Farm & Greenhouse of South Haven, Michigan. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
From left, olive oil vendor Bill Christakos of Des Plaines answers questions by patrons Eric Brodsky of Morton Grove and also Rich Block of Morton Grove. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Examples of greenhouse tomatoes sold on Saturday by Los Rodriguez Farm of Eau Claire, Michigan. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Carol Macejak, a Morton Grove resident, shops for hanging flower baskets. Images from the opening day of the Morton Grove French Market in Morton Grove on June 6, 2020 at 6140 Dempster St.
Originally Published: June 9, 2020 at 5:59 PM CDT