Celebrate National Farmer's Market Week

It's National Farmer's Market Week in the United States, which means it's time to celebrate the bounty and beauty of farmer's markets large and small across the country.

Start the week off right by reading the National Farmer's Market Week Proclamation from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (PDF).

Then it's time to find a local market near you. Search for markets in your area on the NRDC Simple Steps website or the Illinois Department of Agriculture website. Or visit the Illinois Stewardship Alliance website to download their Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois Directory.

Or visit these Central Illinois farmer's markets:

• Clinton Farmer's and Artisans Market, Mr. Lincoln's Square downtown (Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon)
• Illinois Products Farmer's Market, Illinois State Fairgrounds Commodities Pavilion (Thursdays 4 p.m.to 7 p.m.)
• Old Capitol Farmer's Market, On Adams St. between 5th St. and 3rd St. (Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Urbana's Market on the Square, Corner of Illinois St. and Vine St. in downtown Urbana, (Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon)
• Lincoln Farmer's Market, Scully Park (Wednesdays 4 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon) and Farmer's Market Lincoln, Latham Park (Wednesdays 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon)
• Pawnee Farmer's Market, Village Square ( Tuesdays 4 to 6 p.m.)
• Downtown Bloomington Farmer's Market, Old Courthouse Square (Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to noon)
• Downs Village Market, SW edge of Downs (Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m.)

I'm going on a farmer's market tour this week. I'll be at the Old Capitol Farmer's Market in Springfield Wednesday morning, the Illinos Products Farmer's Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, and both Lincoln farmer's markets on Saturday morning.

Which markets are you headed to this week?