Illinois

Community Partners Bring Farmers Market To Peoria's South Side

WCBU | By Dana Vollmer

Published October 22, 2019 at 8:09 AM CDT

For three Saturdays in November, the parking lot of the old Save-a-Lot store on Western Ave. will be home to the South Side Farmers Market. Organizers hope the market becomes permanent.

Several community groups are collaborating to bring a farmers market to Peoria’s South Side.

The pilot project will run for three consecutive Saturdays in November. It’s meant to serve as a model for a permanent farmers market.

Martha Ross is president of Southside Community United for Change, one of the groups behind the project.

“With the South Side being a food desert, the USDA and the EPA came here and we did a training about how to turn this around,” she said. “This is one of the first steps of that Local Food, Local Places training that we did.”

Ross said Intangible Mindz Agricultural Development is working with more than 50 local farmers to deliver autumn fruits and vegetables at a low cost.

She said there will also be jewelry, tarot card readings and several other booths set up.

The old Save-a-Lot store, located at 210 S. Western Ave., will be home to the South Side Farmers Market for three Saturdays in November. Organizers hope the market becomes permanent.

The South Side Farmers Market will be held in the parking lot of the old Save-a-Lot store on Western Avenue on Nov. 9, 16 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other community partners include the Peoria City/County Health Department, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, the City of Peoria, Peoria Public Schools and the Southside Mission.