Winter Farmers Market

This December, North Shore Unitarian Church will host an indoor Winter Farmers Market. Sponsored by Faith in Place, an interfaith environmental organization, these markets provide small, local farm producers with additional venues to extend their income beyond the growing season. Free and open to the public, these markets offer consumers an opportunity to purchase cheese, meat and poultry, soap, syrup, honey, wool, raw fibers, vinegars, dried fruits, milled flours, sauces and salsas, preserves, cider, and fresh produce as available. You will always find a spot to sit with a cup of coffee or tea and a snack from the vendors. 
For the farmers, there is no fee to participate, but they donate 10% of what they take in at the market (after a threshold amount) to the Illinois Farmer Crisis Fund. Modeled after Wisconsin's Harvest of Hope Fund, the Farmer Crisis Fund will give monetary gifts of up to $1,000 to farmers in crisis due to illness or unexpected expenses. Through these markets, consumers continue to purchase farm-fresh items and cultivate relationships with local farmers beyond the summer farmers’ market season.