Group surveying interest in year-round farmers' market

The organizing group for a planned year-round farmers' market in Evanston is conducting a survey of interest in the project.

The "Market for All Seasons" group -- one of the top-ten ideas to emerge from the Evanston 150 process -- will ask visitors to the downtown farmers' market Saturday to complete the survey in person and is also seeking survey responses online.

“Since we began meeting last November, our group has created a mission statement, explored markets held around the country, and discussed vendor mix, space requirements and other attributes,” says Dennis Clarkson, the committee chair. “We are looking to create a vibrant, year-round farmers market providing access to locally and regionally produced foods in an engaging community gathering place.”

Clarkson says the survey is designed to give the committeea better understanding of who currently attends the market, what components of the market experience are important to them and what ideas they may have about a year-round market.

The downtown farmers' market runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at Oak Avenue and University Place in the parking lot behind the Hilton Garden Inn.