We’re headed into harvest, and this year the annual summer food events are not happening. Here are five exceptional farmers’ markets, all practicing safe-shopping protocols and selling the same wonderful, local produce you remember.
1 Green City Market (Lincoln Park) The Near North Side’s premier urban farmers market offers home delivery, curbside pickup and pre-ordering options, but you should mask up and stroll the stalls if only once this summer. Saturdays
2 Oak Park Farmers Market (Scoville Avenue, Oak Park) For years it was in the Pilgrim Church parking lot, but relocated on wide streets to facilitate one-direction shopping, OPFM accepts pre-orders and still offers the donuts made in the church basement. Saturdays
3 Logan Square Farmers Market (Logan Square) This year featuring the full vendor lineup in a virtual market to access from home, the hippest of Chicago’s farmers markets has special in-person shopping hours for the at-risk from 9am to 10am. Sundays
4 61st Street Farmer’s Market (61st and Blackstone) Serving Woodlawn and environs since 2008, and part of Experimental Station, this market supports the Station’s goals of building an independent cultural infrastructure on the South Side by providing accessible fresh and organic food. Saturdays
5 Evanston Farmers Market (University Avenue) A farmers market in a university town: Evanston comes through with the expected produce and prepared food items, including Mexican chow, raclette sandwiches, patisseries and kombucha. Saturdays
Dining and Drinking Editor for Newcity, David also writes a weekly food column for Wednesday Journal in Oak Park and is a frequent contributor of food/drink and travel pieces to the Chicago Tribune, Plate Magazine and other publications. David has also contributed chapters to several books, including Street Food Around the World, Street Food, and The Chicago Food Encyclopedia. Contact: dhammond@newcity.com
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