It’s that time of year — when strawberries sweeten the palette. Whether featured in a strawberry shortcake or served over ice cream, locally grown strawberries can’t be beat. They’re one of the summer’s earliest entries in the group of locally grown fruits and vegetables that delight us over the summer. Just the thought of that sweet juicy berry is enough to make your mouth water.

Don’t run out to the grocery store just yet. That sweet, innocent berry is one of the fruits the USDA says has the most pesticides on its surface. It may be full of antioxidant on the inside but the outside is a different matter. A recent test by the USDA indicated 13 different pesticides.

That’s why it is important to know where your food comes from and what measures the farmer takes to bring it to market.

Dale Hazlewood is the special event coordinator for the city of Aurora. He also takes on the role of Aurora’s farmers market manager. He is passionate about farmers markets and about Aurora’s in particular.

“Illinois ranks third in the nation for farmers markets,” Hazlewood said. “There are an estimated 8,000 markets in the country and over 500 are here in Illinois. Aurora has the oldest one. Ours was established by city ordinance in 1912.”

Hazlewood is a certified farmers market manager. He serves on both the Illinois Farmers Market Association board and on the Farmers Market Coalition board.

Like many markets, the Aurora Farmers Market is home to locally grown fruits and vegetables. It also offers products from Aurora’s popular Wurst kitchen.

“People get in line early for their delicious bratwurst,” said Hazlewood. “The empanadas from Alice’s Corner are also very popular.”

However, the baked goods from Biscocho’s Bakery are Hazlewood’s weakness.

“Their caramel rolls are so good they’re sinful,” he said. “I kid them that I have to go to church on Sunday and ask for forgiveness for eating one.”

The Aurora Farmers Market offers special promotions throughout the season, which runs from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, June 11 to Oct. 15, at the Aurora Transportation Center. There are cooking classes, canning classes and a special Sauerkraut Celebration on Aug. 27 to showcase the fermentation process behind this popular condiment.

The Aurora Farmers Market is also committed to teaching kids about the importance of growing fruits and vegetables.

“Each year, we have a Tomato Day at our preview and we give away 1,000 tomato plants for kids to take home and grow,” Hazlewood said.

The Aurora Farmers Market (www.aurora-il.org/events/farmersmarket) offers additional locations at the peak season in July. Farmers Market West runs on Wednesdays, noon to 5 p.m. from July 6 to Sept. 26, at the West Aurora Plaza. Farmers Market East is open Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from July 7 to Aug. 25 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

It may not be as big as the Aurora market, but the East Dundee Farmers Market has something very few other markets have — Cajun food.

“Ruthella’s gumbo is so good,” said Kelly Hof, market manager. “And she has shrimp poor boys that are also delicious.”

Take a look at the menu and you will find that Ruthella’s offers many Cajun favorites, from spicy jambalaya to sweet beignets.

The Sunday market also brings in produce from area farmers, as well as cooking oils and breads.

If you are more of a flea market type, you can check out the Depot Market on Saturday mornings in East Dundee. There you will find antiques, collectibles and vintage items for sale. There are also opportunities to have your heirlooms appraised.

The weekly Sunday market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until October. The Saturday market also runs weekly, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., until the end of October. Both are at 319 N. River St., East Dundee. Go to eastdundee.net for more information.

The Oak Park Farmers Market features a large number of offerings from Certified Organic Farms.

For a crop to be certified organic, it must be grown on land that has not had any nonorganic materials applied to it for the past three years. The USDA has created a set of standards that are referred to as the National Organic Program, or N.O.P. A board of appointed officials decides these standards. Certified organic farms must undergo an annual inspection by a third-party inspector approved by the USDA.

Each week the market offers entertainment so shoppers can grab a cup of coffee, a doughnut made on-site, and enjoy some live music.

Getting the word out about area farmers markets is often left to newspapers and social media. There are websites, Facebook pages — even Instagram shots.

Oak Park offers videos of conversations with three of its suppliers. It gives you a glimpse of the commitment on the part of the vendors to supplying the markets they serve. Often the general public doesn’t realize what goes into bringing the products to market.

The Srail family in Geneva knows all about what is takes to be a market vendor. Wayne, his wife, Daryl, and their four kids, Amanda, Kristin, Jaime and Scott, have been farming since 1985.

“We get up at 3 a.m. so that we can be at the markets by 5 a.m.,” said Kristin Srail, marketing manager for Windy Acres Farmstand (windyacresfarmstand.com). The farm stand, located on Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We are represented at 14 markets across the Chicagoland area,” she said. Fourteen markets means picking, packing, loading and traveling six days a week.

“Often, by the time we get everything set up at the market, we only have a few minutes to grab a coffee and something for breakfast before the customers come.”

Windy Acres takes pride on offering produce that is picked and brought to market within 24 hours.

“Farm fresh is very important to us,” Srail said. “We want people to taste the difference.”

Not only is farm-to-table a healthier way to eat, it’s better tasting. It’s a way to support local farms and businesses and connect with your community.