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Business & Tech

Lower Traffic at 2011 Libertyville Farmers Market

Vendors suspect weather, economy and competition to blame for low turnout.

After a hot, humid and , farmers and organizers of MainStreet Libertyville Farmers Market are concerned with this year’s declining business.

“Based on what I’ve seen in the past, and from talking to the farmers, it doesn’t seem like traffic is great this year,” said Al Scott, of MainStreet Libertyville, who coordinates the farmers market.

Scott, as well as the participating farmers, attributes the decline to the summer’s weather patterns, the economy, and the number of other markets in the area.

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Farmers Markets Everywhere

“Farmers markets are popping up in every neighborhood. Almost every town in the area has one,” said Joan Didier, from Didier Farms, a vendor at Libertyville Farmers Market. “This market has been here for over 30 years, and they were one of the few around, so many more people came before.”

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Scott and Didier both say the cool early summer weather followed by dangerous heat may have greatly affected numbers, but they both also believe that the economy may be largely to blame.

“I don’t notice less traffic so much on my Saturday markets, and I wonder if Saturdays are just busier because fewer people work. Maybe more people have gone back to work on Thursdays and Fridays,” Didier said.

Priced to Sell

Vendor Dean Froehlich of Froehlich’s Finest Fruits and Vegetables in Berrien Center, Mich., hopes that prices are not keeping shoppers away from the market.

“I think a lot of our prices are cheaper than what they’d find at the supermarket,” Froehlich said. “And you also get great quality because my stuff is picked the day before I come. It just doesn’t get any fresher.”

Many farmers’ market shoppers say that they come just for that reason. Patrons Sara and Brian Lawton participated in a farmer’s co-op this year with Wild Goose Farms, because they want to support their local farmers while getting the freshest available produce.

“We get a big basket of whatever she’s got that week,” Brian said. “We pick that up and browse around to see what else looks good.”

“It is a business risk because you don’t know how the weather’s going to be or how the crops are going to turn out,” Sara Said. “But if you want to support your community and you’re willing to share some of the risk with the farmers, then it’s a good thing to do. I don’t feel like it’s that much higher in price, plus you get more variety of vegetables.”

Nearby Business Doesn't See Decline

Despite the declining traffic at the market, some downtown business owners are not feeling the downturn.

“We are actually up about 1 percent in customer count on Thursdays, and 3 percent in business,” said . “We’ve heard from customers that it seems a little less busy, but overall our Thursday numbers look good.”

MainStreet’s Scott hopes that the downturn does not become a trend. Recently, the village board approved Scott’s request to post marketing signs for the market on Wednesdays. Among already scheduled events for the market, Scott says he is trying to plan more to set Libertyville’s market apart, including cooking demonstration from area chefs.

The Libertyville Farmers Market is held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday until Oct. 20 on Church Street in downtown Libertyville.

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