Glencoe's Downtown TuneUp
Welcome to Glencoe's Downtown Tuneup, the project website and collaborative workspace for residents and stakeholders to interact, share ideas, and help make Downtown Glencoe even better.
Glencoe Farmers Market Survey
BIG thanks to all who took the Glencoe Farmers Market Survey! Your feedback was extremely valuable in helping us understand how to “TuneUp” Glencoe’s Farmers Market!
SURVEY RESULTS: Click here to view a detailed report of the responses and overall findings.
Glencoe Quarterly Article | June 2015
For many years the Chamber of Commerce has coordinated a market in the downtown business district as an opportunity for residents to purchase fresh produce, flowers, and other items directly from area farmers. The market has operated on Saturday mornings from June to October in various locations, most recently on Village Court between Village Hall and Grand Foods. Historically, an outside market manager has been contracted with to oversee operations and to recruit and sustain weekly vendors.
This year there will not be a Farmers Market in Glencoe. The Chamber of Commerce Board, in consult with Village staff, recognizes that the current model for the Farmers Market needs a “TuneUp” due to low turnout of both vendors and residents. It is for these reasons that a Chamber of Commerce subcommittee has been formed to study the situation in order to improve the market for next year.
It is recognized that the Farmers Market is an asset to the Village not just for purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables, but also as an opportunity for residents to come together weekly. This interaction reinforces the small town character that makes Glencoe unique. Thank you for your patience this year and we look forward to providing you with a new experience in 2016!
Glencoe's Downtown TuneUp 
I would recommend the Highwood version of the market- a late afternoon destination with families and shoppers, food to eat on the spot, food and flowers to take home, people getting off the train and stopping by already in town. It is a successful model that I would love to see in Glencoe. I spoke to the village staff about this. Please call me if you want any further input, and please let me know if there are any meetings to discuss.
My experience with Glencoe’s farmers’ market was not good because the fruit was less ripe than what I could purchase in nearby supermarkets. The concept of providing freshly picked fruit and produce, which had reached full ripeness – and thus short shelf-life – before being picked, was not in evidence.
I would highly recommend the downtown evanston farmers market held on saturdays for anyone who really wants an amazing selection of goods. We could not replicate that in Glencoe, but great products (i.e. locally raised, picked within 24 hours and ripe) at great prices would go over well, even if it is just the basics. I’d give anything for a truly vine ripened tomato at times.
Maybe we need to talk to the farmers at the Evanston market to find out if they would be interested in participating in a Glencoe farmer’s market, on a different day.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
I enjoy going to the Libertyville Farmer’s Market on Thursday mornings. There is a variety of vendors including soap, a knife sharpener, fruits, veggies, flowers, handmade dog treats, and other non traditional market items. Consider getting in touch with Libertyville about their market.
Maybe a Market in the middle of the week at the Train Station to appeal to everyone including commuters coming home. But the produce HAS to be fresh. I believe that is the key ingredient to a successful Farmer’s Market.