Barb Pondelick has sold produce at the DeKalb Farmers’ Market since it was first held 12 years ago.

Pondelick, who works at Theis Farm in Maple Park, sells asparagus, peas, sweet corn, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries and more at her vending booth.

“It’s a lot better doing business person-to-person,” Pondelick said. “With the price of gas, it pays to shop locally. We’re all in the same boat.”

The farmers’ market, a cooperative effort promoting local farm goods, will begin June 5 and continue every Thursday afternoon through September.

This will be the 13th year for the market, which is organized by ReNew DeKalb, a community group seeking to revitalize the downtown area.

“It’s important for the community service it provides,” said Jennifer Groce, executive director of ReNew DeKalb. “It’s an alternate economic resource for farmers, it brings pedestrian traffic downtown and it’s very good exposure for DeKalb.”

Groce said the market offers fresh produce, baked goods, wine, crafts and other arts.

“Lately, we’ve seen a bigger interest from craft and art vendors,” Groce said. “Each year, we try to add on and expand the offerings.”

Groce said 15 to 20 vendors are expected to participate this year, and all produce vendors must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The farmers’ market also provides a service for those in need.

For the past three years, the DeKalb County Health Department (DCHD) has offered a Farmers’ Market WIC program, which provides access to fresh fruits and vegetables for those unable to afford them, said Bette Chilton, director of Personal Health Services for DCHD.

WIC is short for “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children,” a national program meant to provide for the health of low-income women, infants and children at nutritional risk.

Chilton said participants must already receive WIC to qualify for the farmers’ market program.
Kay Chase, WIC coordinator for DCHD, said the program offers help to 500 WIC participants, in the form of coupon booklets worth $15 each.

Chase said DCHD is hoping to involve Sycamore in this year’s program, since the local TransVac bus line now connects Sycamore to DeKalb.

“I think it’s a very good program for our participants,” Chase said.

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