The Kewanee Farmer’s Market, now a fixture at Berrien Park over the summer months, has seen some changes over the years. Since the pandemic hit and participation declined, the committee has worked to rebuild the variety of products offered.

Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, said the annual event began back in the 1980s.

“At that time,” he said, “it was vendor-driven,” although the KCOC did sponsor and insure the event. “They kind of did their own thing.”

That was back in the days of Dean Oswald and John and Sharon Miller with Miller’s Market. The vendors took turns, Mikenas said, setting up either in Farm King or the Walmart parking lots.

“It got to the point,” said Mikenas, “where they decided to sell out of their farms and stopped doing it.”

That was some time before 1995, he believes. But several enterprising people weren’t willing to let the local farmer’s market go, and Teresa and Steve Krause of Teresa’s Tasty Produce, stepped in and the KCOC joined them in trying to revive it.

“It took about three attempts of throwing out news releases,” he said.

In 2006, organizers were finally able to start up the market again and began to sell items on Wednesdays in the green space downtown. There were no fees initially for vendors, since the hope was to bring aboard as many participants as possible. In 2009, Saturday markets were added and it was the next year, Mikenas said, that organizers felt ready to charge a fee.

In 2011, a rural community mapping was undertaken by the Institute of Rural Affairs. The community had input and included in that mapping was the Kewanee Farmer’s Market. The committee was an offshoot of that mapping, said Mikenas.

In 2012, a Farmer’s Market committee took over as organizers. That year, 22 vendors came aboard and sold their products throughout the season. Among that committee was Diane DeMay. She and her husband, Charlie, now own The Prairie Chicken Haus, located just north of Kewanee.

DeMay, along with committee members Angie Kolata Cernovich, Jessica Fornander and Mary Krylowicz are responsible for the annual market, held rain or shine on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

DeMay said before she and Charlie had their own brick and mortar store, they sold their products at the market, and she sees the twice-weekly markets as a valuable asset to Kewanee.

“It’s important to the community and important for farmers to sell their local goods,” she said.

But DeMay said that COVID destroyed participation, as many sellers opted to set up shop at home.

“We lost a lot of vendors during that time,” she said. “And they didn’t come back.”

DeMay said the committee has worked to try to rebuild, but the years of attracting 20 to 22 vendors might be over.

“We hope that we have at least 12 throughout the season. Usually we have 12 to 15,” she said.

DeMay said it’s not just farmers who can sell their products at the market. The committee also welcomes crafters and other product vendors.

“All items need to be handmade or homemade crafts,” she said.

In the past, the market has offered items such as honey and fresh-cut flowers, even plants, said Mikenas.

Anyone wishing to become a Farmer’s Market vendor or seeking information is invited to call the KCOC office Monday-Friday until noon at (309) 852-2175. Vendor forms are also available at the office located at 113 E. Second Street.

Vendors can also just show up on the day of the market and fill out the form there, said DeMay.

The current vendor fee is $30 for the whole season from May through October. Over Hog Days, the Farmer’s Market relocates to West Park.

The committee hopes that by raising awareness and reminding the community about the annual summertime event, they can encourage new vendors to join them.

“The next thing we are looking for is customers,” said Mikenas.