By Deedee El bego
Located at the 5th avenue station in Naperville, the Farmer’s Market is the best place to get your fruits, vegetables, and so much more. With fall just around the corner the market has everything you need to stock up on. Right when you walk in you’re greeted with a bright and busy line of stands that feature produce and ready to eat items as well. Since the market is open from 7am till noon you don’t need to worry about having breakfast at home. You can always have a fresh smoothie bowl, avocado toast, or made to order breakfast sandwiches. Those are just a few of the many options but just walking down the line of vendors you might have trouble choosing which food you’ll want to try first.
The first stands that you’ll see at the entrance are Fabian Seafood on your left and Avanti Cheese on the right. Fabian’s specializes in wild-caught shrimp but their fresh Red Snapper has been gaining popularity. Just by the color of the fish you can tell that it’s going to be tasty, especially paired with the shrimp for a fresh seafood dinner. Right next door is Avanti cheese which has been there for 16 years and says their best selling product is cheese curds. They offer a large selection of cheeses but Joe at the stand says, “we are featuring our cheddar cheeses because fall means apples and they go great with cheddar”. If you can handle a little heat you also might want to stop by Chef Heatley’s hot pepper farm stand. With 8 flavors and heat levels you can find something from mild to extreme heat. Perfect for topping off sandwiches, pizza, or a great dipping sauce for wings.
Fabian Seafood vendors displaying their fresh red snapper
If you’re a fan of avocado toast, grilled cheese, caramel apple toast, or smoked pulled pork, you have to stop by Mima’s Toast Bar. Mima is a school teacher and coach who’s had her stand at the market for 4 years. The toast bar always has a line but it’s worth it for her flavorful food that she makes with her family. She says, “We make toast and we make smiles,” and she’s absolutely right because her avocado toast topped with fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of honey will definitely leave you smiling.
Mima holding her signature grilled cheese
The Farmer’s market also features all kinds of clean products like creams, shampoos, and soaps. At Rowe Casa organics you can pick up organic drinkables packed with antioxidants or even deodorants with all natural ingredients. Everything not only smells amazing but you can shop guilt free knowing exactly what you’re putting in your skin and hair.
A new stand at the market called Hook Point Fisheries is taking fresh to a whole new level. Their Sashimi Grade wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon is the freshest you can get in the area. Not only do they catch the fish in Alaska and bring it to the market, but they aren’t shy about portions, you can purchase full filets that will feed your whole family. Make sure to check out their Instagram page @hookpointalaska to see pictures of their family fishing for the goods they bring to the market.
Wild Alaskan Salmon filets and portions
They aren’t the only ones with a long journey since most of the stands come from Michigan which is quite a drive to Naperville and back. The Noffke family farms from Coloma Michigan have fresh produce ranging from cauliflower to seedless watermelon and you have to stop and smell their flowers. Their famous bouquets are especially beautiful when they’re fall themed, so make sure to check out their orange and bronze bouquets. Another group of Michigan farmers is from Benton Harbor, they’re fifth generation family farmers and have 25 varieties of apples. Their farm, The Ellis Family Farm, makes apple cider with their own special blend and their stand features chestnuts as well as produce and maple syrup.
Ellis family apples and syrup
If you’ve got a sweet tooth you have to try Lang’s cookies, which he says, “have got to be illegal for tasting this good.” His peanut butter cookies are the most popular but you’ve got to try them all to find your favorite. He’s been making them for 30 years and has been at the market for 4 years. His stand also has gluten free cookies as well as all types of flavors like butter pecan, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip.
Unfortunately you can’t bring your pets inside the market but you can always buy them a yummy treat or colorful toy to play with from the B.A.A.R.K. stand. Owned by Holly’s safe house for strays they offer a large variety of cat and dog treats that include fish, beef, and baked goods. You can also buy dog and cat toys or fuzzy blankets that will keep them warm for when the temperature drops.
You can also grab some fresh bread at Katich Breads which is always selling out so make sure to stop by there first! They’ve been at the market for a very long time and feature both sweet and savory breads like chocolate loaves and smoked ham gruyere croissants. They are known for their sourdough but the vendor Uros says their english muffins have been extremely popular lately. You can also pre order your bread from their website KatichBreads.com so you don’t have to worry about waiting in line or your favorite selling out. If you want to top your english muffins with some local honey make sure to stop by Honey Trails. Not only do they have honey and honeycomb but they have dozens of candles, lotions, lip balms, and candy. Their bright yellow stand is easy to spot but what really draws attention is how affordable they are. Lots of their candles are only $4 and since they’re slow burning they’ll last you a long time.
The Katich bread stand at the market
Make sure to bring the kids as well because the market now has face painting by Fawn, and music played by the Downhillers that creates a fun environment for people of all ages. Natalia, who’s been living in Naperville since 2018 has been coming to the market since then and says, “We have more motivation to come here since there’s kid based activities.”
Natalia’s daughter getting her face painted by Fawn
Last but not least at the very end of the market there’s Drovers trail Natural Farms. Their large stand is famous for their flat top grill breakfast sandwiches, organic smoothies, and produce. They also offer sweet treats, many of which are gluten free, and you can’t forget about the pickled and fermented foods. They’ve been at the market for 14 years, and are from Minooka, Illinois. People come for their jams, salsa, and famous carrot cake. They can sell up to 300 sandwiches in one Saturday and a couple hundred smoothies as well. Their colorful menu lists all the different options for breakfast and lunch so you can grab a breakfast sandwich to eat at the market and pick up an apple pecan and feta salad to eat later for lunch.
Drover’s Trail menu at the market
The market definitely has a lot of variety so it’s important to take your time while stocking up and check out as many stands as you can before it closes at noon. It’s the spot for everything organic and fresh as well as all your fall favorites. Shopping locally has never been easier, especially when you have everything you need all in one place.
