REMINDER:  Anyone selling any type of food related item is required by the county to hold a Food Handlers Certificate.  The Market will be having a class for this certificate if enough interest is shown. If you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to take part in the Market,  please stop at the Chamber Office and pick up your application.  While there, you may sign up for the Food Handlers Certification Class, if needed. Any questions, please feel free to contact Sharon Habben at 815.772.2018.  Hope to see you there.  Light refreshments will be served.

     I want to thank all of the vendors that were with us each week, or each week their produce was available because we all know there is a lot of work seeing that it produces well and is perfect for market.  We had vendors from Morrison, Rock Falls, Savana, Lyndon, Tampico, Fulton, Sterling, Chadwick and Prophetstown-a well represented community of people all of whom we, the committee, have grown to appreciate and care about.  It is always a bit sad saying good-bye to everyone, but we know that we shall be together again in the Spring, if not before.

     Of course, a huge thank you goes to the WNS for allowing me to prattle on every week about the market and to all you wonderful people who read my prattle!  Certainly, all the familiar faces, and not so familiar faces we see each week (average 200-250 per week) are a real joy and without whom we could not be a Market!  Speaking for me personally, I will miss you all-Especially Sophie.  Now don’t get me wrong and feel I am showing favoritism, but Sophie is special.  She has deep brown caring eyes, fantastic golden hair all over her body-now some might wonder if I have gone around the bend-but  yup, you guessed it, Sophie happens to be a dog who loves the market and walks away with her head down whenever her mistress wants to leave.

     I want to extend a special thank you to the committee who got along just fine without me as I went through my surgery and recovery.  Wait a minute!  That means I am not even needed. Hmmmm, okay it just proves there is no “I” in TEAM and we are a great team.  Thank you Flora, Corinne, Jim B., Jim C. Ron and Boon.  You are all very special people and I feel honored to be associated with each of you.  I also feel honored to make so many new acquaintances over the summer as well.  Have a great fall and winter and remember to shop local whenever you can.  We are all in this together and get only blessings when we work together.  Morrison is a great community filled with wonderful people.  As I have discovered at the market, they also are very loyal in their support.  Thank you and may God Bless one and all.

I want to remind everyone that this will be our last market for the season of 2011.  Hard to believe that next year will be our 5th year already!  At any rate, because it is our last Saturday remember everyone who signs up is eligible for our drawing and if you have not done so be sure and sign up for our basket of goodies to be given away Saturday at 10:30.  You do not have to be present to win.

Also finishing out the season will be another favorite, The Heritage Trio with their dulcet tones and great music.  They have been with us pretty much from the beginning of the the market in 2007 and we are so grateful that they will do this for us.

If you are looking for any autumnal decorations by way of bittersweet, gourds, pumpkins, etc. please stop in Saturday anytime between 8:00-11:00AM and you will see a nice selection.  Remember, we are located just behind the Probation building and if you don’t know where that is, just follow our signage and you will find us.   Hope we see you Saturday!

Saturday was also a most gorgeous day, without a cloud in the sky.

Wait a minute! That is two or three Saturdays now.  Happy Day!  We had great vendors again with fresh, delicious raspberries, sweet corn, squash, tomatoes, fresh shortbread, and we even had one of the vendors who gave away 3 sweet kittens. 

This Saturday we should have bitter sweet as well for those of you who are looking for some. I can hardly believe it, but we have just three weeks left and season 4 of the Farmers’ Market will be done, as of Oct. 1.  Of course, for me, it has been a short season, but I am always sad to see it end.  We hope you will be able to visit us sometime in the next three weeks and enjoy the home grown (raised) meats, fresh produce, freshly baked goodies, or hand crafted items.  One of our new vendors does stained glass work as well as sell tall ornamental grasses.  Visit us, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety.  We are located behind the probation building and are there from 8:00 to 11:00 AM-watch for our signage and you should have no trouble finding us.   Hope we see you Saturday.

Baar’s Potato Farm has been with us almost every Saturday since our very first meager Market and their produce is wonderful, as has been their reputation for years.  Many years ago it was run by Bernie and Neva Baar and now is continued by their family.  Jennie Pruis, a grandaughter has been with us since we opened and one Saturday the first year, Grandma Neva stopped in to see how everyting was going.  She never left and has been with us every Saturday since because she enjoys it so much.

Jennie recently got a job teaching in our system which meant that now she would not have time to represent Baar’s at the Market.  We all were sad that they would no longer be able to be with us.  By the way, congratulations Jennie!  We know how much you wanted to teach and know you will do a great job.

Saturday I assigned their regular spot to another vendor because we were getting so full when to my surpise, here came Neva’s son-in-law saying that Grandma Neva wanted to be at the Market.  We set her up in another location, but next Saturday she will be right where the Baars have been so if you have a chance, stop in and tell her how happy you are to see her back here.!  She is a great hugger so maybe she will share one with you!  We are glad you are back Neva.

If sleeping in on Saturday morning is your cup of tea, then you can  still get an idea of what we are all about by coming to our Sept. 8 evening Sunset Market.  Last year we had a terrific turn out and we are hoping for even more this year.  Most of our regular vendors will be able to be there with samples of their foods and produce as well as special drawings etc..  We are going to have delicious grilled hamburgers and brat burgers, grilled veggies and maybe even some grilled pineapple with a scrumptious sauce.  Back by demand will be Kai Brearton and Boon Sukboriboon and their delicious Tai offerings. 

We hope you will bring your family, your friends, your neighbors, even strangers if you are so moved, to our Sunset Market on September 8th.  Circle the date and meet us there from 6:00-8:30 or so, PM that is!.  Of course, you can come this Saturday as well anytime between 8:00-11:00 am and check us out and buy some wonderful fresh produce or freshly baked goodies.  We are behind the Probation Building in the County Parking lot and if you don’t know where that is, watch for our signage, and you will find us.  Check us out at www.morrisonfarmersmarket.com for more information.

Okay, so maybe we didn’t have POTUS at the Market this week, but we had many customers and for us, they are equally important if not more so.  Especially when one considers it actually stormed for a good period of the time.  Thank you to all of you who braved the weather for the fresh produce and freshly made foods.  The sweet corn is pretty well done now, as we all know, but we  have ever so delicious melons, tomatoes, potatoes, leeks and much more.  Come and check us out.  You will not be disappointed.

Have you circled September 8th yet?  If not, please do so because that is the date for our evening Market for this year.  As I said before, we will not be having a wine sampling, but we shall be having cold cider, hot spiced cider, many samples, grilled foods as well as  Kai Brearton and Boon Sukboriboon serving some of their most delicious Thai food.  Jim Seely, a favorite of the market goers, will be our music/entertainment for the evening.  All in all it promises to be a great night.

The Market will open at 6:00 pm and continue until at least 8:30.

     And don’t forget, we will all be there this Saturday as well from 8:00-11:00 am so stop in and get some of the heathy fresh goodies for you and your family.  You could also start your Christmas shopping at our many artisan booths as well.  So, rain or shine we will open at 8:00 am and be there until 11:00.  We are located directly behind the Probation Office or our signage will get right where you need to be!  See you Saturday-and Thursday, September 8.  Go circle it now!!

Located at 9571 Hoover Road, Rock Falls, Illinois, Poci’s Market & Greenhouse stands out at the market for their beautiful hanging baskets. Through the season, a huge variety of fruits and vegetables can also be found at the stand.

I hope that each of you that reads this will circle September 8th on your calendars.  Why you may ask?  Because that is the night, a Thursday night, when we shall once again have our evening Market.  We will have many of our regular vendors to enable you to shop, and we will also have different food booths for your enjoyment.  There will be no wine sampling this year, but we shall have some fun drinks (non-alcholic), fun music, drawings, etc.  See you then!

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