Farmers Market Reporter Visits Aurora's Granddaddy of IL Markets

Bob Benenson
Jun 11
2 min read

Even Among the Handful of Long-Running Markets, Aurora's Stands Alone

Most of the long-running farmers markets in the Chicago region are between 45 and 50 years old, born in the 1970s during the infancy of the Good Food movement. But in Illinois, the farmers market in the populous southwest suburb of Aurora stands alone: Continuously running since 1912, it is acknowledged as the oldest farmers market in the state.

It's not surprising that Aurora established its farmers market tradition earlier than most places. The rise of industry made it the largest city in its part of the region long ago, but much of the surrounding area in the early 20th century was farmland. The city had a population of about 30,000 when Aurora Farmers Market started.

It's doubtful that anyone at the time could imagine how big Aurora would get: Suburban development mushroomed the population in the second half of the 20th century. Today, Aurora's roughly 180,000 residents make it the second most-populous city in Illinois.

Ed Kugler, who roams metropolitan Chicago as the Farmers Market Reporter, visited the Aurora Farmers Market. Ed is knowledgeable about legacy markets — he manages the 47-year-old Ravinia Farmers Market in the north Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Both even Ravinia would be the great-grandchild of Aurora Farmers Market.

Enjoy Ed's photos from his visit.

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Aurora Farmers Market at Water Street Square

65 S. Water St., Aurora

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.