Fun, food and frivolity was the name of the game Saturday at the Macomb Farmers Market's (MFM) 50th anniversary celebration.
On July 10, 1975, a pickup truck pulled up on the Macomb Square and two women set up a wood plank and sawhorses and placed tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans for sale on the makeshift table and with that, the Macomb Farmers Market was born.
The market's first director was WIU Communication Professor Emeritus Gloria Hurh. Other directors over the years included Miriam Beveridge, Grace Hartmann, Susan Pace, Ron and Marilyn Coons and the City of Macomb/Downtown Development. Today, the MFM is run by Alyson Sturgis. Under her direction, the summer and winter markets have grown to include more than 40 vendors, with up to 30 currently being present at any given time, and the market now has 501(c)3 status under Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.
One of the mainstays of the market, Doris Carman, with her famous homemade pies, has been a part of the market for 25 of its 50 years.
To honor her, a special pie-eating contest was held at Saturday's market with Larry and Sebastian tying for first. Other events included a balloon toss, egg on a spoon race and demonstrations by the Macomb Police Department K9 program and the Macomb Fire Department.
The MFM of today features the mainstays, such as locally-grown produce, plants and flowers and baked goods, along with numerous new additions like locally-raised pasture-raised meat and eggs, honey, homemade popcorn, crafts, personal care products, handcrafted goods, knife-sharpening on site, children's activities, dog obedience, ready-to-eat food and entertainment. In addition, the Macomb market is unique as it accepts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and participates in the LinkMatch Program.
The Macomb Farmers Market, which is a member of the Illinois Farmers Market Association and the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, is held from 8 a.m.-noon, Thursdays, and 8 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, in Chandler Park.
