DANVILLE — When the farmers' market opens Wednesday, it will be in a new location with a new person sharing coordinator duties.

Toby Brown has been selling Lingley Brothers sweet corn at the market for about 10 years.

"At 40, I'm kind of an elder statesman," Brown joked. "I've been one of the people committed to the market and now I'll share coordinator duties with Jean Beck."

The market has had homes in the Kresge lot, north of the Vermilion County Court House Annex, and more recently in Temple Plaza.

The market will now move to the open lot in front of the Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion St., which is also just north of the Vermilion County War Museum.

"The Kresge lot had limited parking for customers and Temple Plaza had literally no parking for vendors and not much for customers, depending on the time of day," Brown said. "The new home is pretty just as it is and will give vendors even more visibility as well access for both vendors and customers."

Barb Nolan, library director, couldn't agree more.

"We are thrilled and excited to part of the move," Nolan said. "Vendors can back up to the south side of the green lot and be on the pavement and have their produce handy. Other vendors can set up tents in the lot. We have enough space for probably three rows of vendors, as we grow."

Brown said it was hard on vendors when they couldn't sell out of the back of a vehicle.

"They had to park, unload, set up, move their vehicle and then do everything in reverse in the heat of the day," Brown explained. "We hope this new space will eliminate one of the barriers to getting more vendors and more customers."

Brown said when he sets up on the Georgetown Road or at Illinois 1 and U.S. 136 between Rossville and Danville, "you can see that circus from a long way away. Having that visibility is a big plus. The library lot offers a panorama view for people passing by and hopefully they will stop."

Though the market kicks off next week, Brown said, produce will be a little thin at the beginning.

"I was about 10 days late with my planting. The weather just hasn't been good, so almost every grower is going to be a little later," he said. "We just hope we have enough people support our initial vendors that they stay and as the crops come on, the customer base will grow."

With more vendors comes more competition and with more vendors also come more customers because of the variety and competition.

Vendors will have a 12-foot by 12-foot space for a $5 rental fee. They are not required to sell both days of the market each week. All approved items must be either homegrown, home-baked or handmade by the person selling them at the market.

"We were pleasantly surprised at the attendance for the market planning meeting," Brown added. "With all the specialty growers we have in Vermilion County, we need to encourage them to participate in the market.

Nolan said market customers will be encouraged to park on the south side of the parking lot between the library and the war museum.

"We want to be sure to leave the regular library lot for library patrons," she said. "I believe there will be plenty of parking for everyone concerned."

Nolan said library employees are already working on offering programs on nutrition, cooking, and growing produce in conjunction with the market.

"I think the new space will be cooler, temperature-wise, too because vendors won't be on the pavement," Nolan said.

The Vermilion County unit of the UI Extension office will also be on hand to offer tips on using the available produce at the market complete with recipes.

Vendors interested in participating in the market can call Brown at 339-2487 or Dana Schaumburg, executive director of Downtown Danville at 443-3886.

More information:

Downtown Danville Farmers' Market

When: 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, May 18 through October

Where: Danville Public Library front lawn, 319 N. Vermilion St.

Vendor contacts: Dana Schaumburg, 443-3886; Toby Brown, 339-2487.