For the first time in more than a decade, Riverside will host its very own farmers’ market this summer. The market will be located in the Riverside Bank parking lot, 17 E. Burlington St.
That’s just a stone’s throw from Riverside Foods, the local grocery store which says it will not participate. The sponsors of the farmers’ market considered seven locations before deciding on the Riverside Bank parking lot.
“We think the location is ideal,” said Joe Pilewski, the chairman of the Riverside Economic Development Commission (EDC) which is co-sponsoring the farmers’ market with the Riverside Sustainability Council.
The farmers’ market will open either the last week of June or the first week of July and run until November. It will be open Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On April 20, the village board voted unanimously to grant the necessary permits and to provide $750 in start-up funding.
While sponsors of the farmers’ market invited Riverside Foods to participate, the grocery store has declined the offer.
“We are not going to participate,” said Stephanie Garbis, a co-owner of Riverside Foods. “We pay taxes for our facility here. We don’t need to peddle our stuff in a parking lot.”
Garbis said that Riverside Foods gets much of its summer produce from farms in nearby states.
“They’re not selling anything different from what we sell here,” Garbis said. “If the village didn’t have a grocery store it makes sense. But we do have a grocery store.”
Garbis said that Riverside Foods pays local taxes, hires local people, makes donations to local charities and sponsors local sports teams, She said doesn’t understand why a local government agency would sponsor competition to Riverside Foods.
“We’re used to competition,” Garbis said. “That’s the nature of business and of free enterprise and capitalism. But to get competition from our own government agency, our own EDC, especially at this time, with this economy, it’s just bad timing on their part.”
Sponsors of the farmers’ market say that it will benefit downtown merchants by bringing people to downtown Riverside.
Local florist Pat Vacha, whose shop is just down the block from Riverside Bank, says she will participate probably by selling Illinois-grown sunflowers and gladiolas. She says she likes farmers’ markets and has always wanted to participate in one.
“I’ve never been able to do it before, and Wednesday afternoon is a good day for me,” Vacha said.
Buddy Dogs has agreed to stay open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and will allow vendors to use its restrooms.
The village will charge each vendor a $15 fee each week; the village should recoup the initial investment and make money from the market, according to Pilewski.
A preliminary budget prepared by the EDC indicates the village could make a profit of at least $870.
“Our projection is that they will more than paid back if it runs a full term,” Pilewski said.
Riverside last hosted a farmers market in the mid 1990’s. But after two years that market ended and attempts to get another farmers market started have been unsuccessful until now.
But with growing interest in eating locally grown food advocates say the time is right to start a farmers market.
“It seems like the people in the village are excited about it and looking forward to it,” Pilewski said.