Chicago farmers' markets
Over the years Chicagoans have shown a greater desire for locally grown, seasonal food and as a result the popularity of open air food shopping has grown substantially. Today the city hosts over 30 farmers' markets across many different neighborhoods with farmers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin participating. Shopping at a farmers' market can be a family affair for both shoppers and farmers. It's not uncommon to see an entire family of farmers with children and adults alike helping customers, especially in the busy summer months when children are out of school.
Schedule and locations
Most, but not all, of the markets are sponsored by the city and occur on one day of the week, with the exception of a few of the more popular ones, such as the Green City Market. Each market is open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.[1] Over time the locations and days of some markets have shifted as the city is constantly working to provide balanced coverage to different neighborhoods throughout the week. The only day that no markets are open is Friday. While most markets begin on the first week of the month listed, shoppers should check their local market before visiting, as a few begin in the second week of the month.
One farmers' market which serves Chicagoland, open daily and year-round, is Home Grown Cow.[2][3][4] It is a virtual farmers' market; orders are delivered directly to customers from the farms.
Monday
Loyola Market[5] |
When: |
3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - June through September |
Where: |
Albion Avenue and Sheridan Road |
Tuesday
Downtown Farmers' Market
Lincoln Square[6] |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
City parking lot at Lincoln, Leland and Western next to the Western Brown Line stop |
Prudential Plaza[7] |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
Lake Street and Beaubien Court |
Federal Plaza |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - May through October |
Where: |
Adams and Dearborn Street |
Wednesday
Andersonville
Green City Market[8] |
When: |
Outdoor Market- 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - May through October
Indoor Market- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - November through April |
Where: |
Outdoor market - south end of Lincoln Park at LaSalle Street in Lincoln Park along path between 1750 North Clark and Stockton Drive
Indoor market - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive |
Lawndale |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
Parking lot of Community Bank of Lawndale at Grenshaw St. and Homan Ave. |
Logan Square |
When: |
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. - June 26-September 4 |
Where: |
Logan Square Blue Line Plaza at Kedzie Ave. and Milwaukee Ave. |
Andersonville Farmers' Market |
When: |
3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
On Berwin Ave. between Clark St. and Ashland Ave. |
Gately/Pullman |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
Arcade Park, 111th street and Cottage Grove |
Seaway |
When: |
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through September |
Where: |
Seaway National Bank parking lot, 87th St. and Langley Ave. |
South Shore |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
South Shore Bank parking lot, 70th and Jeffery |
Thursday
Lincoln Square
Hyde Park Market |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
Cul-de-sac at 52nd Place and Harper Court |
Willis Tower |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
At the park between the 311 South Wacker building and Willis Tower. |
Daley Plaza |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - June through September |
Where: |
Washington and Dearborn at Daley Plaza |
Dunning/Eli's/Wright College |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
6701 W. Forest Preserve Drive at Montrose in the parking lot of Eli's Cheesecake World |
The Park at Jackson & Wacker |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June through October |
Where: |
311 South Wacker Drive |
Saturday
61st St. Farmer's Market |
When: |
9AM-2PM, May 11-December 14 |
Where: |
61st St. in Hyde Park Between Dorchester and Blackstone |
Austin |
When: |
July 8-Oct. 21. |
Where: |
Parking lot of Emmet Math, Science and Technology Academy at Madison St. and Central Ave. |
Bronzeville[9] |
When: |
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - June 3 through October 12 |
Where: |
Dunbar Vocational Career Academy parking lot, 30th and King Drive |
East Garfield Park |
When: |
|
Where: |
See listing under Sunday markets. |
Eden Place Farmers' Market |
When: |
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - May 31 through October 11 |
Where: |
43rd Street and Wells, Fuller Park neighborhood, next to Citgo gas station |
Green City Market[10] |
When: |
Outdoor Market- 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - May through October
Indoor Market- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - November through April |
Where: |
Outdoor Market—South end of Lincoln Park at LaSalle Street in Lincoln Park along path between 1750 North Clark and Stockton Drive.
Indoor Market- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. |
HomeGrown |
When: |
Noon-3 p.m., July 8-Nov. 4 |
Where: |
Chicago: 2626 W. Division St. |
Lakeview: Nettlehorst School |
When: |
8 a.m. to 1 p.m through Oct. 29 |
Where: |
Broadway and Melrose |
Lincoln Park |
When: |
Saturdays May 20-Oct. 28 |
Where: |
Parking lot of Lincoln Park High School, Armitage and Orchard |
Morgan Park |
When: |
Saturdays, June 3-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
Parking lot of Shiloah M.B. Church, 92nd and Ashland |
Near North Side |
When: |
Saturdays, June 18-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
Division between State and Clark |
North Center |
When: |
Saturdays, June 3-Oct. 28 |
Where: |
North Center Town Square, at Lincoln, Damen and Belle Plaine |
North Halsted |
When: |
Saturdays, June 3-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
Parking lot of Faith Tabernacle Church, Halsted, Broadway and Grace |
Printers Row |
When: |
Saturdays, June 18-Oct. 22. |
Where: |
Dearborn and Polk |
Sunday
Logan Square
West Lawn |
When: |
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, June 19-Oct. 23 |
Where: |
Parking lot at Republic Bank, 65th and Pulaski |
Roscoe Village |
When: |
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn play lot, Belmont and Wolcott |
Where: |
June 19-Oct. 23 |
Ashburn |
When: |
June 18-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
Parking lot, 87th St. and Kedzie Ave. |
East Garfield Park |
When: |
300 N. Central Park Ave., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., June 3-Oct 28 |
Where: |
City parking lot on the southeast corner of 95th Street and Longwood Drive |
Lakeview |
When: |
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, June 7-Oct. 4 |
Where: |
3179 N. Clark St. |
Lake Shore East |
When: |
July 16-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
220 N. Park Dr. (or 220 N. Columbus Dr., then take elevator to lower level) |
Logan Square[11] |
When: |
10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 18 - Oct 26 |
Where: |
Logan Blvd. from Milwaukee Ave. to Whipple St. |
Wicker Park/Bucktown |
When: |
June 4-Oct. 22 |
Where: |
Wicker Park and Damen Avenue |
Rogers Park |
When: |
9 a.m. - 2 p.m., June 3 - October 28 |
Where: |
Glenwood Ave and Morse Avenue |
Every day
Online - serving all of Chicagoland |
When: |
24 hours/day, 365 days/week |
Where: |
Home Grown Cow - Chicago (meat, poultry and cheese producers only)[2] |
What's available?
For many people the first things that come to mind when thinking of a farmers' market are fruits and vegetables, but the variety is actually much greater than that. At most markets one can also expect to find flowers, baked goods and even specialty meats like piedmontese beef. Many of the markets also appeal to those concerned about sustainable farming with a focus on certified organic produce and free-range meats. While each market is different, shoppers can expect to find some of the following fruits and vegetables during the months listed.
May |
June |
July |
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August |
September |
October |
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References