EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market, community members are invited to attend the "Truck- to-Table" family event as part of the Evanston Harvest Celebration on Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During "Truck- to-Table," hosted by Now We're Cookin', top local chefs will partner with prominent Midwest sustainable growers to deliver a tasty culinary event.

For the first time, this annual Harvest Celebration fundraiser will be held right at the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market, 1800 Maple Avenue. Tickets entitle attendees to a wonderful eight-plate tasting. Early-bird pricing at $40 is available until 1 p.m. on September 5. After the Farmers' Market closes on September 5, ticket prices will be $50. Children age 9 and under accompanied by a paying adult will receive three free kid meal tickets (limit four children per family).

Tickets may be purchased online at brownpapertickets.com/event/2044660 or at the City of Evanston tent at the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market, which is held Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chefs from the following food establishments will be creating family-friendly small plates: Boltwood, Cooked, Campagnola/Union Pizza, FarmHouse, Found, Gotta B Crepes, Hewn, Koi, Peckish Pig and NorthShore University HealthSystem. Market producers include: Geneva Lakes Produce, Kinnikinnick Farm, Nichols Farm, Green Acres, Endless Greens, Heartland Meats, Gast Farms, M and D Farms, Lake Breeze Organics, 1st Orchards and Greenhouse, Elko's, Stovers Farm Market, AquaTerra Farms, K & K Farms, JW Morlock and Girls, River Valley Kitchens, Seedling Fruit, and Smits Farms.

The Evanston Harvest Celebration benefits both the Downtown Evanston Farmers Market and Friends of Evanston Farmers Markets, a non-profit organization that educates the public about the benefits of eating fresh, locally grown foods, advocating greater access to healthy food for all community members, regardless of means.

Funds raised at the event will be used to continue Friends' educational projects as well as provide support for its LINK matching program, which enables families who otherwise couldn't afford the market to buy fresh produce, eggs and cheese. Participants will also be supporting The Spud Club, an in-market kid's educational program provided by the Evanston Farmers' Market. 

For more information about the Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market, visit cityofevanston.org/market or call 847-448-4311. For convenience, callers may dial 311 while in Evanston.