STREATOR, Ill. — The sky’s the limit this year for the weekly Streator Downtown Farmers’ Market (SDFM), which opened last Saturday.

"As events ramp up this summer for the New Horizons probe to reach Pluto, the Farmers’ Market is carrying out the theme ‘Outer Space’ to help drive awareness of it," noted Market Manager Curt Bedei.

Vendors are dressing up their displays of foods fresh from the farm with posters and information about Pluto, the second-closest dwarf planet to the sun – formerly identified as its ninth planet before its status change in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union.

Pluto was discovered by a former Streator resident, the late scientist Clyde Tombaugh, at Lowell Observatory in Arizona in 1930. New Horizons is to make the first ever flyby of Pluto on July 14, zooming within 7,800 miles of its surface. A portion of Tombaugh’s ashes are aboard the craft for the journey that has been nine years in the making, Bedei stated.

"We want our customers and everyone who sees our poster to be aware of this special occasion," he noted.

"We are in the public weekly, socializing, communicating and overall bringing a level of pride to the community. Because of this, we can have a tremendous influence on those who come to the market and may not otherwise be in the know."

The SDFM poster depicts Tombaugh on a farm looking into the night sky filled with constellations bearing vegetables. The wording encourages the public to "discover new vegetables this summer," and includes the city’s insignia for "The Year of Pluto."

A special commemorative limited edition of the poster is available by contacting Bedei at 815-257-6807 or sdfarmar@hotmail.com

Also, a second event, The Star Gazer Market, will open 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays on South Monroe Street in Streator, in July only.

The market will provide the same fresh produce the SDFM does each Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

"Expect to see some space theme produce like Pluto Basil, Red Planet Lettuce, Moon and Stars Melon and more," Bedei said. "We wanted to add to the list of events for this occasion and invite everyone downtown after work to relax."

Music and children’s activities are planned, he noted. "I encourage everyone to ride their bikes, walk, bring a friend, a lawn chair, and join us downtown."

In addition, the city of Streator, the Streator Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the La Salle County Cattlemen and the county Stockman’s Assoc. will be host to the community’s first Ag Day at the Streator City Park on July 25. Hours are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

A vintage farm tractor show and the Clyde Pride Tractor Ride are among that day’s featured events, along with a barnyard discovery display, pony rides, a farmers’ market and a blacksmith display, Bovine Bingo, music and a flea market. Lunch and dinner will be available from the Cattlemen.

A new app for better connecting with customers has been adopted by the SDFM. Bedei said customers who join the free FarmFan program will get "What’s Fresh" at the market by text message just before the market opens. This could include possible special offers from vendors.

And, each week FarmFan customers visit the market, they will be checked in and available for possible rewards.

"We have our market customers and wanted a better way to keep in touch with them about the wonderful products our vendors sell," Bedei said of the new app.

"We are excited to reward our frequent shoppers and call them FarmFans."

Customers can also rely on the weekly text message for information about products like strawberries available at the market for a limited time only, and last-minute information such as rain or other weather-related cancelations.

Since its release in January 2014, FarmFan has been adopted by more than 200 farms and farmers’ markets nationwide and in Canada. The FarmFan app helps to bridge the gap between markets and their customers. It is available through both the iTunes and Google Play stores.