Prairie Farm Corps at Libertyville Farmers Market

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This season, the Learning Farm will offer a variety of new on-farm programs and events at the Prairie Crossing Farm and expand our reach into neighboring communities.

With these new initiatives, we will no longer offer a Prairie Crossing Farmers Market at Station Square. Although this is a difficult decision, the farmers market had become unsustainable for the Learning Farm to operate.

When the Prairie Crossing Farmers Market began in 1996, it was a novelty to purchase organic food grown in Prairie Crossing. Through the years, the number of Prairie Crossing Farm businesses increased dramatically, and the community embraced the availability of multiple CSA options. While this is wonderful news, and we celebrate the community’s support of local food and of our farmers, the Prairie Crossing Farmers Market sales have declined significantly over the years.

We are pleased to have the opportunity for the Learning Farm’s Prairie Farm Corps program to establish a market stand at the Libertyville Farmers Market this season. The Prairie Farm Corps will sell certified organic vegetables at the Libertyville market on Thursday mornings from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Some of the job skills the Prairie Farm Corps focuses on include customer service and communication, and our primary “real life” teaching moment occurs during farmers market customer interactions. Participation in the Libertyville market will allow students to interact with a large number of customers and provide greater visibility to our work at a time when interest in sustainable and organic local food production is on the rise.

We hope to see you at the Libertyville Farmers Market in support of the Prairie Farm Corps.