Ears of early-season sweet corn, ripe tomatoes and fresh green beans spill out of baskets in the back of one truck. Nearby, strawberries and raspberries are on display at a makeshift stand constructed out of a trailer. Fresh-cut irises and daffodils rest in buckets of water across the alley.

On her lunch break, DeKalb resident Cindy Kreutziger drifts from stand to stand, examining the wares at the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. The market draws her back year after year to buy plants and seasonal fruits and vegetables, she said.

The summer season is apparent at the downtown market, set up in Palmer Court, north of Lincoln Highway between Second and Third Streets. Sunshine flickers over the vendors’ displays and warms the faces of the few browsers.

The market opened for the season June 3 and is open, rain or shine, from 1 to 6 p.m. every Thursday until mid-October, said Jennifer Groce, executive director of Main Street DeKalb. The market, which is coordinated by Main Street DeKalb and sponsored by Kishwaukee Health System, draws more than 300 people on a sunny day, she said.

About 15 vendors from northern Illinois sell items including produce, plants, baked goods, jams, salsas, handmade candles and other crafts, Groce said.

“Our vendors offer the freshest locally grown produce in the area,” Groce said. “They are happy to answer your questions and give you tips on what to buy that day. Not only are you getting fresh produce, but you’re learning about it at the same time.”

New to the market this year is “Lunch in the Court,” Groce said. Tables and chairs are set up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday, and menus advertise local restaurants that offer box lunches for sale. Other downtown restaurants also offer meals to go, or market shoppers can bring lunches from home if they prefer.

Kreutziger said she browses the market as often as possible, usually stopping by after work. Although produce is sometimes more expensive than it would be at the grocery store, she added, there often are good deals to be found, and it is a way to benefit the community.

“Sometimes I don’t mind paying a little extra for fresher produce,” Kreutziger said. “It’s a good thing for DeKalb.”

Groce said she has been pleased by the community response to the market and hopes interest will continue to grow.

“By coming down to the Farmers Market, you’re experiencing something new,” Groce said. “It’s always a lot of fun down there. You can pick up something out-of-the-ordinary – something you can’t find at your normal grocery store.”