2025 Chicago Region Winter Farmers Market Schedule
These Markets Make the Local Food Season Go Year-Round
Winter farmers markets in the Chicago region used to be extremely rare. But as more and more farmers are practicing season extension, the growing season is no longer confined to May to December — and there are many more options for the region's winter farmers market fans.
This article on the Local Food Forum website shares our list of winter farmers markets in the Chicago region. If you know of any that I missed, please share the details with me in the comments.
You'll also find these markets listed on the Illinois Farmers Market Assocation's website — along with the winter markets throughout the rest of the state.
The participating farmers are extending the local food season. If one of these winter markets is in your area, they'd appreciate your purchases.
NOTE: I am not going to publish a weekly indoor market schedule. Today’s article will be pinned to the Local Food Forum website home page, and I’ll post a weekly reminder for newsletter subscribers.
Food and Farm Non-Profit News Roundup: Events and Job Openings
New year, new opportunities from Chicago region food and farm non-profits. Check out this roundup on Local Food Forum:
* If you are a CSA farmer who serves customers in exurban Chicago's McHenry County, learn about the CSA Fair being planned for February 8 by McHenry County College's Center for Agrarian Learning and The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Applications to table at the event are due by this Friday (January 10).
* Farmers Rising, the farmer education non-profit based in Caledonia, Illinois, is resuming its webinar series, Farming in the Climate Change Era, this Thursday evening. The article has a link to register.
* And these great non-profits have job opportunities in which some of you might be interested: American Farmland Trust, Just Roots Chicago, and The Land Connection.
Please read or share with anyone who might be interested.
Schedule Note: Hopefully I’ll Be Able to Sing “I Can See Clearly Now”
I always try to get both eyes open for news from and about the local food ecosystem. For months, though, I’ve only had one good eye, because the other developed a particularly nasty cataract.
That’s why I am having cataract surgery tomorrow morning. Those who have been through it tell me it’s practically routine these days. I am very much looking forward to being able to use both eyes for the first time in a while.
I may be a little off publishing for the next couple of days, but hopefully all will go well and I’ll be back on track by mid-week.
Thanks Bob and good luck with the eye surgery.