Farmer's Markets

Hi,

Highland Park, IL will have a 'European Farmer's Market' Saturdays 8 AM to 1 PM from June 12th until October 16th, 2004 located at Renaissance Place on Green Bay Road between Central and Elm Streets.

If you are aware of other farmer's markets in your area, then please consider responding to this post with your very local information.

Cathy2

The Oak Park Farmer's Market will open for the first time this year next Saturday, June 5. It's located at the northeast corner of Scoville and Lake.

For more info, check http://vil.oak-park.il.us/farmersmarket/

It's the Pilgrim Congregational Church parking lot, 1 block west of Ridgeland, 420 W Lake St.. Right now they will have a lot of fruit, flowers, plants & the cheese vendor will undoubtedly be there.

Best bet: the fresh donuts they make right in the church basement.
50 cents each or $6.00/dz

Get in line early & enjoy the folk music while you wait. Coffee's available, too.

There's a list of Chicago markets here:

Chicago Farmers Markets

Cathy - How far from the Metra Highland Park stop is the farmers market?

Are there fresh eggs there?

TIA

Cathy - How far from the Metra Highland Park stop is the farmers market?

Hi,

It is about one block north and 2 blocks west. Less than a 10 minute walk.

Are there fresh eggs there?

It doesn't begin until next week. I will not make it next week due to a conflict. So I will advise when I can.

Cathy2

Hi,

A few weeks ago, I drove up to Wisconsin Dells to go morel mushroom hunting with friends. As I was heading up, there was a substantial 4 inch rain fall with more predicted over the weekend. As I slept in the A-frame cabin, where I was in almost direct contact with the roof, I was a little depressed about walking in muddy forests. I then got the bright idea to go to Madison for the day. Though I am not enthusiastic about muddy forests, I can at least muster something for a farmer's market.

I arrived to Madison around 11:30 and located a one-hour-only parking spot near the Capital building, which the farmer's market circles. This early in the season, I think an hour is plenty because many booths were offering flowers over foodstuffs. I would imagine the foodstuffs take a stronger presence as the season continues.

Since I was not there to shop for my weekly needs but more for my amusement, I will report on what I bought:

- Smoked whole trout, priced at $12.99 per pound - it was very lightly smoked. I prefer the smoked trout from around 95th and Calumet in Chicago.
- Pecan Pie from a Mennonite Farmer for $6 marked down from $9 as it was approaching closing. I was especially interested in the ingrediants list where brown sugar was a key ingrediant with no corn syrup or molasses present. It also saved me a little bit of grief as I failed to bring homemade pies to this weekend. I had the ingrediants but not the time. I wish I had found the time, because everyone was quite disappointed.
- Popcorn: 3 pounds each of Baby Rice (a white popcorn), Red Baby Rice (red popcorn), Black and Calico (a mixture of red, white and black popcorns) --- Father's Day present solved!
- Ramps - to satisfy my curiosity.

My snacks while strolling were:
- 'Wisconsin Empanada' - this was larger than any empanada I have ever had with a large chunk of soft, semi-melted spicey jack cheese in the middle. For $4, it was more efficient to melt cheese in microwave and slap on the hips. I think it they reduced the size as well as the price, this would be an easier snack to deal with.
- Buttermilk-Potato Donuts with Sugar dusting - I was surrounded by people who were really appreciating these donuts. I bought one to satisfy my curiosity, which is all I ever need. This was a sub par mediocre donut with unusual ingrediants highlighted to offer a status it didn't deserve. Sure it is donut making off the mainstream, it just didn't translate into anything tastey. A cider donut it wasn't.
- Venison Jerky for $1. This had a slick, slimmy mouth feel with a surface moistness I just didn't like. Though I did finish the whole thing anyway ... oh those poor people in Turkey I grew up rescuing by eating all my food.

There were meats offered like Buffalo and Ostrich, which I was in no position to keep for any length. I almost had an opportunity to buy some nettles, but they were already sold out.

There were several vendors selling morels, none were in pristine condition. One vendor sold grades of morels from 1) whole 2) large pieces 3) small pieces with prices beginning at $40 per pound. The first quality still did not look as good as those my friends had collected by the time I returned to our cabin.

I did go out mushroom hunting on Sunday, where I personally found exactly one morel mushroom. Like everything else, I was there for the people rather than the circuses.

Regards,
Cathy2

Madison Farmer's Market
Surround the Capital Building
Madison, Wisconsin
Saturdays: 6:30 AM to 2 PM
http://www.madisonfarmersmarket.com/

West Loop Gate: West Loop Community Organization Evening Farmer's Market, 4 to 8 p m. Thursdays, June 24 through Oct. 28. (Includes Taste of Randolph To Go, meals prepared by different neighborhood chefs. Discount parking at Park 1, Washington and Peoria.) Randolph Street Courtyard, 843 W. Randolph St. http://www.westloop.org (312) 666-1991

Near North Side: CHIC Farmers' Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, year-round. (Indoor/outdoor market. Free parking. Three-course brunch at noon prepared and served by CHIC culinary students using foodstuffs from the vendors, $18; reserve at (312) 873-2032.) Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, 361 E. Chestnut St. (773) 779-5055.

Lincoln Park: Green City Market, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 27, 1750 N. Clark St. at Stockton at the south end of Lincoln Park. ("Sustainable green market"; chef demos at 10:30 a.m.) http://www.chicagogreencitymarket.org (847) 835-2240

Humboldt Park: HomeGrown Chicago Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, June 19 through Oct. 16, Association House parking lot, 1116 N. Kedzie Ave. (Urban gardeners' produce market, part of the Openlands Project.) http://www.openlands.org (312) 427-4256.

Skokie: Original Skokie Farmers' Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Sundays, June 27 through Oct. 31, parking lot between Village Hall and library, 5127 Oakton St. http://www.skokie.org/about/boardscommi ... fairs.html (847) 673-0500.

Evanston: City of Evanston Farmers' Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 6, University and Oak avenues. (Free parking in the Maple Avenue Parking Garage.) http://www.cityofevanston.org/Governmen ... arket.html (847) 866-2936.

Des Plaines: Des Plaines Community Senior Center Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, July 10 through Oct. 9, Library Plaza, 1501 Elinwood Ave. (847) 391-5717.

Forest Park: French Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 30, National Bank & Trust parking lot, 7340 W. Madison St. (708) 771-4777.

Park Ridge: Park Ridge Farmers' Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 30, Prairie and Garden streets. http://www.park-ridge.il.us/prcity/farmmkt.htm (847) 318-5217.

Also, unless they've fixed it, the city of Chicago Web site I posted earlier has the wrong location for this market, which is correctly:

Rogers Park: Rogers Park Craft & Community Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, June 20 through Oct. 17, on Ashland Avenue between Rogers Avenue and Howard Street.

Note that the Evanston Farmer's Market, as listed above, is only 2 blocks from the Davis Street El and Metra stops.

Does anyone have a link to suburban farmer's markets or knowledge of when/where the LaGrange Farmer's Market is held?

Thanks.

Matt

Here's the USDA's list of markets throughout Illinois:

Illinois Farmers' Markets

I'm not certain how current it is.

There appear to be two markets in LaGrange.

And here's a link to the brand new web site for the CHIC Farmers' Market... every Sunday in the City:

http://www.chicfarmersmarket.com

Soon, I'll figure out what else should be on this page... at the moment, it's pretty bare.

Anyone have information on the Humboldt market? I do not recall it in years past, and have never heard of openlands project. It sounds as if it will only be produce grown within the city?

Thanks in advance...

Just in case there's anyone in the South Loop who hasn't checked the City's mater schedule, the South Loop Farmers' Market has returned to be actually in the South Loop, after three years or so of being down on 18th and Wabash. It's back in the little lot on Polk between Dearborn and Federal. Today, there was one good vegetable/flower stand (the main seller from the years down on 18th street), a couple of fruit vendors, and someone selling beef. They all seemed to feel like the business has been slow so far-- people don't seem to be aware of the fact that the market is back up in Printer's Row.

A

There is also a new West Loop market in the courtyard behind Marche, which has been promoted in the context of the Antiques market. I'm not certain, but they even be on the same day.

MAG wrote:There is also a new West Loop market in the courtyard behind Marche, which has been promoted in the context of the Antiques market. I'm not certain, but they even be on the same day.

The West Loop market is on Thursdays, 4 pm to 8 pm to be convenient for after-work shopping, in the courtyard at 843 W. Randolph.

More info in this Chicago Journal article:
http://www.chicago-journal.com/stories/ ... armers.htm

Thanks for the article, I now remember talking with Lynn at a City Farm Dinner, at which she discussed her intention to create an after-work market. I mean does make sense. I have access to a fridge at work and I often bring a cooler on Green City Market days, but it is difficult hauling everything I buy upstairs and then back downstairs. This market will be really helpful for those who don't have a fridge or don't drive to work.

South Loop, Printer's Row Market; further notes

A couple of days ago I wrote in about the return of the South Loop Boerenmarkt (farmers' market) from its place of banishment just outside the city walls to a lot on 18th Street. It is now back in its old place amongst the guildsmen and gentleburghers of Printers Row. Here beneath the proud tower of Sint Genesiuskerk

Ah, to have an imagination!

Thanks for the post!

HI,

Highland Park has a second longstanding farmers market in the Ravinia district in the park at Roger Williams and St. Johns Avenues. It is every Wednesday from 7 AM until 1 or 2 PM.

I thought with the European market held at Renaissance Place every Saturday, this was eliminated but I drove past recently and it was in full swing.

Cathy- have you been to the "european" market yet? I am wondering if it is similar to the traditional ones here, or different. Somehow I got the impression that the "european" ones have more non-food, gift-type items, but I havent made it there yet.
-Will

have you been to the "european" market yet? I am wondering if it is similar to the traditional ones here, or different. Somehow I got the impression that the "european" ones have more non-food, gift-type items, but I havent made it there yet.

Hi,

I have yet to go. I just never think to go. I will try to get over there on Saturday before heading into Chicago.

It's one of life's ironies: I go to the Field Museum with great regularity. The Highland Park Historical Society is close to my house, I have been there once in over 30 years.

I'll let you know.

Naperville, at 5th Ave. Station. Sat. am-noon or so.
I went recently and have been enjoying kale, radishes, blueberries, cantaloupe and the best cherries I've ever tasted.

Cathy- have you been to the "european" market yet? I am wondering if it is similar to the traditional ones here, or different. Somehow I got the impression that the "european" ones have more non-food, gift-type items, but I havent made it there yet.
-Will

That has been my impression when walking by them. I've never felt a strong urge to walk through one.

The West Loop Evening Farmers Market has expanded onto Randolph Street between Peoria and Sangamon streets, one block west of Halsted. The farmers and vendors sell their wares on the service drive on the south side of the street every Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. through Oct. 28.

Upcoming events at the market include chef demos and "Taste of Randolph To-Go" nights, when a local chef offers seasonal meals for takeout from 5:30 p.m. until the food sells out; Sept. 9 features Kim Shambrook of Bespoke Cuisine. Cooking demonstrations include: Sept. 16, Maripa Abella, Rodan; Sept. 23, Shambrook; Sept. 30, Eden Rosenbush, Big Red Oven; and Oct. 7, Theo Gilbert, Trattoria #10.

I don't know if this counts...and it may be of no use to you folks in Chicago, but here is a pick of the Pike Place Public Market in Seattle.

Don't let Hammond near those salad fixin's!

It appears that many farmers' markets will be starting earlier this year than in some past years. Chicago has posted the 2005 Schedules on the city web site. The link goes to a page with links to the schedules for markets downtown or in neighborhoods by frequency. Most of the weekly neighborhood markets start around June 18. Lincoln Park begins May 21, and Lincoln Square begins June 7. Federal Plaza starts May 17.

Green City goes to Wednesday and Saturday beginning May 18.

Nichols web site has their schedule, which includes a number of suburban markets as well.

The CHIC Farmers' Market doesn't seem to have found a new home (and name) yet. Their site still refers to the closing. I am including the link to make their site easy to check. I find the absence of any reference to this market on Nichols' site to be a bad sign because Nichols was a core vendor.

New farmers' market

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays

220 N. Park Drive
(Enter off E. Randolph St. to N. Field Dr. and
go North to N. Park Dr. OR take the elevator
at 220 N. Columbus Dr. to the lower level.)

http://www.botanicalschicago.com/market/market0705.html

Highwood's Evening Gourmet Farmer's Market
amarrin@cityofhighwood.org

Event Date(s): 06/03/2009 - 11/04/2009
Weekdays: Wednesday
Event Time: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Event Location: Highwood City Hall 17 Highwood Avenue, Highwood, IL 60040
Contact Name: Anne Marrin
Contact Phone: 847-432-1924
Web site: celebratehighwood.com

Event Details:

Come Get A Taste of the Good Life in Highwood!

A weekly celebration of food, wine, art, live music and friendly faces!

Vegetables, Fruits, Gourmet Cheeses, Homemade Pastas, Baked Goods and More!

The first Famer’s Market is scheduled for Wednesday June 3rd from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the City Hall Park (17 Highwood Avenue) and will serve as the official launch of the “Celebrate Highwood” campaign.

Look for it every Wednesday througout the summer and early fall!

See You in Highwood!