I was heading home from a stop at Green City Market in Lincoln Park Saturday (July 22), when I discovered a flock of geese grazing at the bus stop (not a usual locale for them).
Maybe it’s a good thing they didn’t know the riches of produce that awaited them if they just crossed the road to the market.
After a stretch of sketchy Saturday morning weather, our city markets enjoyed a beautiful start to the day, and gaggles of people were out in force. (Timing is everything, and the markets dodged a downpour that descended on the city in late afternoon.)
Amazingly sweet cherry tomatoes, such as these SunGolds at the stand of Froggy Meadow Farm (Beloit, Wisconsin), are abundant.
Meanwhile, Nichols Farm and Orchard of Marengo, Illinois now has four varieties of summer apples for purchase: from left, Earlygold, Mantet (their first red apples), Lodi and Yellow Transparent.
Saturday’s market haul: carrots and a cucumber from Growing Home (Chicago); SunGold tomatoes from Froggy Meadow Farm; zucchini from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin); apricots, my first plums of the season, and peaches from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan); and Mantet apples from Nichols.
According to the Specialty Produce site, “Mantet apples have a soft consistency without the firm crunch associated with other apple varieties. The cultivar also has low acidity, creating a very sweet, subtly tangy flavor with a honeyed, spice-like aroma.”
Here’s this week’s regional farmers market schedule for you to plan your local food adventures.
Low-Line Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 3411 N. Southport St., Chicago
SOAR Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 226 E. Chicago Ave.
Green City Wednesday Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Pullman City Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 11100 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago
Uptown Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunnyside Mall (betw. Magnolia & Beacon), Chicago
Daley Plaza City Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sheridan Rd. & E. Scranton Ave.
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
Deerfield Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Park Avenue between Jewett Park & Hazel
Edgebrook Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 6525-6540 N. Hiawatha Ave., Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St.
Mercado de Colores, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4345 W. 26th St.
Plant Chicago Mini-Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4459 S. Marshfield Ave., Chicago*
*Plant Chicago holds a full-scale market in Davis Square Park every 3rd Saturday of the month and mini-markets on other Saturdays. In other weeks, Plant Chicago holds a mini-market at 4459 S. Marshfield Ave. in Chicago. The next full market will be held on Aug. 19.
Farmers Market at the Dole, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Frankfort Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Breidert Green & 1 N. White St.
Glenwood Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Glenwood Ave. betw. Morse & Lunt, Chicago
Hyde Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1516-1528 E. 54th St., Chicago
Maxwell Street Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1821 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago