FARMERS MARKET GUIDE 2025
(L) = LINK
(M) = LINK MATCH
(C) = CITY-RUN MARKET
SUNDAYS
95TH STREET FARMERS MARKET
Longwood Drive, 1835 W. 95th St.
Through October 26, 8 am–1pm
Home to a diverse array of farmers, bakers and artisans: Coco’s Tamales, Noffke Family Farms, Stamper Cheese, Lafevor Farm and Greenhouses. Entertainment weekly 10 a.m. – noon including local favorites like The Beverly All Stars, Joel Barr, Dave Waterman, Mark Taylor, Bridget Cavanaugh, and more. Sponsors include Beverly Bank and Trust, Southtown Health Foods, 19th Ward Youth Foundation, State Sen. Bill Cunningham and State Rep. Mary Gill. 95thstreetba.org/farmers-market
BRONZEVILLE CITY MARKET (L)(C)(M)
4700 S. King Drive
Now – October 5, 10 am–2 pm
In conjunction with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) the Urban Canopy runs this market with goods from its two-acre farm on the South Side. Founder Alex Poltorak was inspired by how nutrition affects children while working as an Education Pioneer Fellow in Chi cago Public Schools. Also find Compost Club here – a way to do good for the Earth with your scraps. ChicagoFarmersMarkets.us
EL PASEO
944 W. 21st St.
May 5-October 5, 10 am-2 pm
FINDING JUSTICE FARM STAND
PCC Salud, 5359 W. Fullerton
April 28-November 28
Minority- and woman-owned, food is harvested less than 48 hours before it hits the market. findingjusticegarden.com
GLENWOOD
miles of Rogers Park, the Glenwood Sunday Market is a program of the nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance, whose vision is to create an equitable, ethical and secure local food system.
Vendors at 16th annual market include: flowers from Lyon’s Fruit Farm, Milwaukee Home Grown and Yang Town Farm; meat from Bennett Farms and Finn’s Ranch; produce from Blacksmith Acres LLC, Hardin’s Family Farm, Los Rodriguez Farms LLC, Lyons Fruit Farm, Mike & Clare’s Farm, the Urban Canopy and Yang Town Farm. Food artisans include dairy from Stamper Cheese Company and Bennet Farms; Honey Works; Bennison’s Bakery, Mickii’s Desserts, Mindful Baking, pHflour Bakery, Rebecca’s Confections, Katherine Anne Confections, Phoenix Bean LLC. Ready-to-go food will be available from Schmaltz & Vinegar, Urban Tables Inc., Kikwetu Kenya Coffee Company and popsicles by The Stick Up.
“Spiral Into Spring” fundraiser to support food access at the market is 7-9 p.m. May 9 at Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Tickets are $75, or $125 for VIP that includes after-party ’til 10 p.m. at Rogers Park Social, 6920 N. Glenwood Ave. Info on market and fundraiser at glenwoodsundaymarket.rpba.org
HYDE PARK DOWNTOWN MARKET (L)(M)
Hyde Park Bank lot, 5400 S. Lake Park W. June 1 - Sept. 28, 9 am-2 pm
A partnership with Hyde Park Bank, South East Chicago Commission (SECC) and Special Service Area 61. downtownhydeparkchicago.com
LOGAN SQUARE SUNDAY MARKET (L)(M)
On Kedzie, Logan to Fullerton May 11-October 26 8:30 am-3 pm
USA Today called the Logan Square market the best in Illinois. www.logansquarefarmersmarket.org
MAXWELL STREET MARKET
SUNDAY MARKET (L)(M)
On Glenwood, Morse to Lunt
(west of CTA Red Line Morse Station)
June 1– October 26 (exc June 29 & Aug 17), 9-2 pm
Composed entirely of farmers and food artisans from within 200
On Maxwell, Halsted-Union
Select Sundays: May 18, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14, October 5 10 am-3 pm
The open-air market was established in this location in the late 19th century for newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and was officially recognized by the City of Chicago in October 1912. As the neighborhood changed, so did the market. In the 1930s and 40s, the market became known as a place where many Black musicians who had migrated to Chicago began to develop a new musical genre – electrified urban Blues, later coined "Chicago Blues." The market was moved to Canal Street to accommodate University of Illinois/ Chicago expansion, to South Desplaines, and back to its original location. The Maxwell Street Blues Series on Sunday, June 8 brings the blues back to its South Side roots with performances by Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds and DJ James Porter. www.chicago.gov/city/en/ depts/dca/supp_info/maxwell_street_market.html
Compiled by Suzanne Hanney
Maxwell Stre et Market
NORTH PARK COMMUNITY MARKET (L)
Parking lot of Peterson Elementary School, 5510 N. Christiana Ave. 10 am-2 pm
Third Sundays: May 18, June 25; July 20; August 17; September 21; October 19. Find great local vendors, live music, free kids' activities and nonprofit organizations. September event is part of Bryn Mawr Block Party. northparkcommunitymarket.org
PORTAGE PARK MARKET
4100 N. Long Ave. 10 am-2 pm Dates TBA.
WICKER PARK FARMERS MARKET (L)(M)
Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave. Now - October 26, 8 am-2 pm
Celebrating its 25th season with 60+ vendors, yoga, story time, Pilates. wickerparkbucktown.com
ROSCOE VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET
Hamlin Park, 3035 N. Hoyne (new location)
June 8-October 12 9 am-1 pm www.lakeviewroscoevillage.org
SOUTH LOOP FARMERS MARKET
Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Level 4
Jan. 12-May 18, Noon-4 pm
Indoor market with 75 vendors, live music and DJs and cookbook library, has been extended. www.shopwatertower.com/event/Winter-Farmers-Market
MONDAYS
EDGEWATER MONDAY MARKET (L)(M)
Broadway Armory Parking Lot, 5917 N. Broadway
June 2- September 29, 3-7 p.m.
40+ vendors offer food, activities, entertainment and more. www.edgewater.org/events/monday-market
FRESH MOVES MOBILE MARKETURBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE (L)(M)
10:30 am-noon: Trina Davila, 4300 W North Ave.
1-3 pm: Thresholds Austin, 334 N. Menard
Non-profit 501 (c)(3) Urban Growers Collective (UGC) operates eight farms on 11 acres, predominantly on the South Side, which support food production, education, leadership development and more. The crops grown there -- from sweet winter greens to juicy August tomatoes – go to UCG’s farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture and the Fresh Moves Mobile Market. The Fresh Moves Mobile Market is a converted bus. This “produce aisle on wheels” brings produce to schools, community centers, churches, and health clinics — places that folks already frequent — to make good food accessible in Black and Brown neighborhoods that have been historically disinvested. The produce is priced to be affordable for all and to provide a fair return for the farmers and makers.
HOW LINK MATCH IS A WIN/WIN FOR ILLINOIS AND ITS RESIDENTS
by Suzanne Hanney
Link Match doubles the purchasing power of food stamp users, which is a win/win for their health – and Illinois agriculture too.
Link Match expands low-income consumers’ buying power because, while SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) can be used for any food item, Link Match vouchers or double-up bucks can only be used for fresh fruits and vegetables at farm stands, farmers markets and grocery stores.
“When someone walks into a farmers market and gets bread or cheese, we are trying to break the barrier of having to choose that OR fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Matthew Ruffi, senior program manager at the Experimental Station, which launched the Link Match nutrition incentive in 2011 and which continues to oversee its growth across the state. “Now, it turns into, ‘I can have that AND fresh fruits and vegetables.’ It’s all about increasing what a person can buy.”
www.urbangrowerscollective.org/fresh-moves-mobile-market
SNAP is managed at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at the state level by the Illinois Department of Human Services, where recipients apply to get an electronic Illinois Link card, used much like a debit card. According to the IDHS website, a single person with $2,071 gross monthly income can qualify, and so can someone age 60 or disabled with gross income of $2,510. www.dhs.state.il.us
One in 6 Illinoisans – 2 million people –rely on SNAP, according to the Experimental Station in Woodlawn.
Last year, 131 partner venues (traditional farmers markets, farmstands, mobile markets, brick and mortar stores and more), saw spending of $1.47 million by Link Match users statewide. The number of venues increased by 37 over
Continued on page 9...
FreshMovesMobileMarket
TUESDAYS
FARM ON OGDEN (L)(M)
3555 W. Ogden Ave.
11 am-6 pm
As the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture and community health initiative, Windy City Harvest offers free classes at its flagship Farm on Ogden that empower residents with knowledge about nutrition, cooking skills, and how to make the most of its fresh produce. Each year, Windy City Harvest offers paid, hands-on training to more than 70 individuals, with about 80 percent securing jobs in the food systems industry after completing the program. Since 2013, it has helped launch and support more than 30 small farm businesses. www.chicagobotanic.org/urbanagriculture/markets
THE FARMER AT THE GREEN Canal/Van Buren/Clinton
May 20 - September 23, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
ey; Noffke Family Farms 4th generation fruits, vegetables, fresh-cut flowers; Nourish sourdough breads with organic, freshly-milled whole flours; Onigiri Kororin; River Valley Ranch, family-operated and offering vegetables, salsas, pasta sauces and granola; Stamper Cheese for small-batch taste; Tamales Express Mexican street food; Yang Town Farm produce and flowers. Sponsored by the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. www.lincolnsquare.org/farmers-market
LOW-LINE MARKET (L)
CTA Brown Line (3410 N. Southport), 3-7 p.m.
June 3-October 7
Now in its 3rd season, this market, presented by BMO, is conveniently located just south of Union Station, ideal for commuters and West Loop residents alike. thegreenat320southcanal.com/farmers-market
FRESH MOVES MOBILE MARKETURBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE (L)(M)
10-11:15 am: Claretian Associates, 3201 E 91st St.
1-2:15 pm: Thresholds South, 734 W 47th St.
3-4:15 pm: Academy for Global Citizenship, 4941 W 46th St www.urbangrowerscollective.org/fresh-moves-mobile-market
GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER (L)(M)
7244 S. South Chicago Ave.
June - November 3-6 pm
On its rooftop garden and 1.75 acres of accessible agricultural space on South Chicago Avenue, youth harness STEAM–science, technology, environmental science and studies, art and math–to deepen connections to the land, support stronger local economies, and build healthier communities. They explore sustainable green career pathways through overnight camping trips, field trips, mentoring, FFA and career fairs; earn while learning through Green Teens employment-readiness, stipend-based programs and seasonal part-time positions. They cultivate relationships with restaurant/market clients, food pantry leaders and other food equity partners.
In addition to produce, find honey – lightly flavored by local flowers and harvested by Comer’s certificate-earning beekeepers. www.garycomeryouthcenter.org/services/farmers-market
LINCOLN SQUARE FARMERS MARKET (L)(M)
4513 N. Lincoln Ave.
Now - November 18, 7 am – noon
Conventionally sourced produce travels 27 times more distance than locally grown: from farm to transport, to distributor, to grocery store, to table.
Local vendors at this market include Anticonquista Café, family farm-owned and operated roaster; Banter Marketplace baked goods; Bennett Farms; Breadman Baking – with no preservatives; Compean and Sons sustainable orchard; Daisies Chicago fresh pastas and seasonal sauces; Dorothy’s Bakery organic scones, bagels and more; Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe sold by Gateway to Learning participants; Dotson’s Farm potted herbs, vegetables and cut flowers; Jacobson Family Farms herbs, vegetables, mushrooms, eggs and pasture-raised meat; John Bailey Honey; Kaleido Greens; Lafevor Farm vegetables; Los Rodriguez Farm fruits and vegetables; Mick Klug Farms’ produce, apple cider, jams and hon-
The Low Line connects Southport and Paulina in a continuous, half-mile walkway and garden underneath the “L” tracks. Curated market seeks to create an experience where neighbors can meet while having greater access to high-quality produce. Musicians are encouraged to apply. www.lakeviewroscoevillage.org
MARKET BY THE RIVER
AMA Plaza, 330 N. Wabash Ave. 10 am-3 pm
Find a variety of fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats, plants, baked goods, cheeses, as well as artisanal goods like candles and jewelry. greaterrnba.com
PRU FARMERS MARKET
130 E. Randolph St.
May 13-October 28, 11 am-3 pm
SOAR FARMERS MARKET
Museum of Contemporary Art Plaza, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
June 3-October 28, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Find fresh produce, yummy baked goods, gorgeous flowers – even a light lunch!
Vendors include Bennison’s Bakery, Cook County Sheriff’s Urban Farming Program, Finn’s Steak and Egg Ranch, Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese, Kikwetu Kenya Coffee Co., Lyons Fruit Farm, Nichols Farm & Orchard, Noffke Family Farm, Oosterhoff & Son Flowers, Phoenix Bean Locally Crafted Fresh Soy Products, River Valley Ranch & Kitchen, Smits Farms Flowers Herbs Vegetables, Stamper Cheese. Coordinated by the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR). soarchicago.org/ soarfarmersmarket
WEDNESDAY
ANDERSONVILLE FARMERS MARKET (L)(M)
1500 W. Winona St. (between Clark & Ashland)
May 14– October 22, 3-7 pm
Celebrating its 16th anniversary and featuring more than 40 rotating and pop-up vendors, this “food forward market” features only items grown or produced within a 200-mile radius. Vendors include Bennett Farms meats, Breadman Baking Co., Chef and the Baker, Chef Heatley’s Hot Pepper Farm, Chinese Mom Kitchen, Downstate [potato] Donuts, First Slice Pie Café, Onigiri Kororin, Pecking Order Filipino street food, Piscasaw Gardens, Frogtown Juice Co, Sfera, Global Gardens Refugee Farm, Green Fire Farm, Hook Point Fisheries, Kaleido Greens, Sheekar Delights, Stamper Cheese, Tasting India, Three Bees Honey, Tony Peanuts Peanut
GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER (L)(M)
June - October 31
7244 S. South Chicago Ave., 3-6 pm
November 8 is a special event, “Pumpkin Smash” (TBA). Bring your Jack o’ Lanterns to break up and compost. www.garycomeryouthcenter.org/services/farmers-market
SATURDAYS
61ST STREET FARMERS MARKET (L)(M)
6100 S. Blackstone Ave.
May 17-October 25 9 am-2 pm
Launched in 2008, 61st Street Market at the Experimental Station is the leader in promoting acceptance of Link/Link Match around the state (see story starting on page 7). Its 25-30 vendors expand access to healthy food in Woodlawn and surrounding neighborhoods. experimentalstation.org/market
CHICAGO PATCHWORK FARMS (L)(M)
2825 W. Chicago Ave.
May 24 - November, 10 am-3 pm
DIVISION STREET CITY MARKET (L)(C)(M)
30 W. Division St.
May 17- October 25, 7am–Noon
ECKHART PARK (L)
1330 W. Chicago Ave.
June 7-August 3, 9 am-1 pm
ENGLEWOOD
VILLAGE PLAZA & MARKET (L)(M)
58th & Halsted (SW Corner)
9 am - 1 pm June 14, 28; July 12, 26; Aug. 9, 23, 30; Sept. 27; Oct. 11, 25
Grow Greater Englewood connects the community to Black-owned businesses selling locally-grown produce and goods at the plaza, which is at the entrance to the Englewood Nature Trail, a two-mile linear park on a vacated rail corridor. Vacant lots are maturing into the Englewood Agro-Eco District. growgreater.org
EVANSTON FARMERS MARKET (L)(M)
University Ave @ Oak Street (behind Hilton Garden Inn)
May 3-November 1, 7:30- 1 pm; 7 am access for seniors and adults with disabilities
50+ vendors offer produce, herbs and flowers, baked goods and prepared foods of various ethnicities, along with items from Evanston Home Grown Artists. Spud Club activities teach kids about healthy eating. Free parking with validation in Maple Avenue Garage. www.cityofevanston.org/residents/farmers-market
FARM ON OGDEN (L)(M)
3555 W.Ogden Ave.
9 am-3 pm
GREEN CITY MARKET LINCOLN PARK (L)(M)
1817 N. Clark St.
April 5 - November 22, 7 am-1pm greencitymarket.org
2018 called for better education on diet, because chronic, preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke are drivers of both poor health and high costs. Within Medicare, 93 percent of spending is on patients with multiple chronic conditions.
In terms of policy, in other words, spending on nutrition is a matter of “pay me now, or pay me later.”
The next step is teaching people what to do with good food that may be new to them. The Experimental Station hosted in-school gardening and healthy eating classes, and after-school cooking classes and visits to its hoop house for youth in grades 2-5 at nearby Carnegie Elementary School. Kids pull vegetables out of the ground, learn knife skills, prepare an item, then show and tell their parents, Ruffi said.
Last year, the Experimental Station also gave crock pot cooking classes to adults at Jackson Park Terrace. Twelve residents sampled six easy, high-nutrition, vegetable-filled recipes, and were able to keep the crock pot at the end of the series.
Link Match means more purchasing power for people who need it most, Ruffi said, and more money into the pockets of local farmers, who feed their own families and local economies. Link Match vouchers are just like cash, and farmers receive a check the next week.
There’s a synergy between low-income Illinoisans seeking fresh and healthy foods and Illinois farmers – particularly those of color – seeking to provide it, Experimental Station Executive Director Connie Spreen noted in the 2023 Increasing Food Access report. Only 5% of the food eaten in Illinois is grown here, which makes the state’s food supply vulnerable to climate disruption in agricultural states like California.
However, Spreen envisions an “agricultural transition” in Illinois backed by linkages between farmers and low-income Illinoisans seeking healthy food. Could Illinois become an exporter of lettuce and tomatoes in 10 or 20 years? With IDHS help, the Experimental Station has begun a process this year to create an Illinois Food System Roadmap. Last year’s $1.47 million in Link Match, it says, is verification that consumers want it.
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