The arrival of ramps, soon to be followed by asparagus and strawberries, signals the arrival of prime season for Chicago’s farmers’ markets. We’re in the easiest time of year to shop markets, buy local and sustainable stuff, and come away with produce that tastes only a million bazillion times better than the same species flown in from South America or New Zealand. I visit a fair number of them on the north side myself, but when I was asked to do a list of the top ones alongside the Summer Guide issue, I went straight to the source: Rob Gardner, editor of the Local Beet. He runs regular pieces on things to do with local and sustainable produce, and has useful features like his guide to effective farmers market shopping and Jeannie Boutelle’s Local Calendar. So I quizzed him to help put together this guide to what to find at some of the best farmers markets in the Chicago area.
Not that sticking to your neighborhood should be the only choice, either—some of the more distant markets toward the countryside are already in full swing, maybe because they’re drawing from farther south, while the city markets are just now getting going. And he likes the idea of going to a market in a small town like Woodstock—”It’s like going out to the country, it has that cute town square, and lots of farmers who really are local, just outside of town. Frankfort doesn’t have the cute town square, but it’s like that too in the south suburbs,” he says.
5/14-10/29: Thu 7 AM-3 PM, Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington, 312-346-3278, thedaleycenter.com.
Lincoln Park
A smaller, much less busy market near Green City (but without its strict insistence on organic certification), with good Michigan fruit vendors and some interesting food vendors like Spencer’s Jolly Posh Foods grilling bangers for lunch.
5/17-10/25: Sun 10 AM-3 PM, Logan and Milwaukee.
Iron Street Urban Farm Market
Gardner says the market attached to one of Growing Power’s urban farms is good to shop now, because their hoop houses produce things you won’t see in other markets for a few more weeks.
