Buy Fresh Buy Local Says Take Your Pick
My latest article is about agritourism, plus this week's region market schedule
Agritourism Gets to the Core of the Matter
Every season has its pleasures. And one of the fun options in autumn — which starts this Thursday — is visiting some of the numerous orchards and pumpkin patches in our area.
Virtually all of them sell their produce. Many provide pick-your-own opportunities. And more than a few take it up a notch by providing entertainments that range from simple hayrides and petting zoos to ginormous corn mazes and carnival rides.
My latest article for the Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois directory is about agritourism and the importance many farmers place on opening up to visitors. My story focuses on Curran’s Orchard on the west side of Rockford in north-central Illinois, where a bumper crop of apples was already weighing down the branches when I visited in late August.
Curran’s is one of the region’s most sustainably managed farms, spraying its fruit with just a fraction of the chemicals that most farms do. Its approach to the farm experience is unfancy and centered on helping visitors learn about agriculture. And you are guaranteed to come home with plenty of apples and pumpkins, plus delicious apple donuts, pies and unpasteurized cider that is truly the pure drop.
Click below and enjoy.
This Week’s Chicago Region Farmer’s Market Sked
I have a bit busier-than-usual Monday schedule, so I’m getting this week’s regional farmers market schedule out a day early. Please buy local and support our amazing farmers.
Monday, September 19
Hinsdale Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 E. Chicago Ave.
Tuesday, September 20
Lincoln Square Tuesday Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon, Lincoln & Leland, Chicago
Lombard Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., 20 E. St. Charles Rd.
Low-Line Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., adj. to Southport Brown Line, Chicago
SOAR Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Sycamore Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 133 W. State St.
Woodstock Tuesday Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, Historic Woodstock Square
Wednesday, September 21
Andersonville Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 1500 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago
Elmhurst Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.,, York Rd. and Valette
Garfield Ridge Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 6072 S. Archer, Chicago
Grayslake Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Center St.
Green City Wednesday Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark, Chicago
Pullman City Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 11100 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago
Ravenswood Farmers Market, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 4900 N. Damen, Chicago
Ravinia Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jens Jensen Park, Highland Park
Riverside Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., 10 Pine Ave.
Uptown Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., 4620 N. Broadway, Chicago
Thursday, September 22
AMITA St. Mary and Elizabeth West Town Health Farmers Market, 1 p.m to 6 p.m., 2233 W. Division St., Chicago
Austin Town Hall City Market, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., 5610 W. Lake St., Chicago
Barrington Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 200 Park Ave.
Daley Plaza Chicago City Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
Glencoe Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wyman Green
Growing Home Farm Stand, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 1844 W. 59th St., Chicago
La Grange Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 53 S. La Grange Rd.
Libertyville Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cook Park and W. Church St.
Lincoln Square Thursday Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lincoln & Leland, Chicago
PCC Austin Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to noon, 330 N. Lotus Ave., Chicago
South Loop Farmers Market Grant Park, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., S.E. corner of Roosevelt and Michigan, Chicago
Friday, September 23
Back of the Yards Farmers Market, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m, 940 W. 50th Pl., Chicago
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon, Village Green
Lake Zurich Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 200 S. Rand Rd.
Marshall Farmers Market, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Courthouse Square
Mundelein Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Park St.
St. Charles Indoor Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon, Baker Memorial Church
Schaumburg Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 190 S. Roselle Rd.
Saturday, September 24
Aurora Downtown Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, Water St. Square
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, N. River St. betw. Wilson and Spring
Brookfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 8820 Brookfield Ave.
Crystal Lake Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Depot Park
Deerfield Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Park Ave. betw. Jewett Park & Hazel
Division Street Chicago City Market, 7 a.m. to noon, Chicago
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5001 Main St.
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m, University Place and Oak Ave.
Edgebrook Farmers Market*, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Central & Hiawatha, Chicago
Elk Grove Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 901 Wellington Ave.
Englewood Village Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 58th and Halsted, Chicago
Garfield Park Neighborhood Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 135 N. Kedzie, Chicago
Glenview Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, 1510 Wagner Rd.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 115 S. Sangamon St.
Homewood Farmers Market, 8 a.m to 1 p.m., Martin Ave. betw .Ridge & Chestnut
Horner Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago
Huntley Farmers Market, 8 a.m to 1 p.m.,11704 Coral St.
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, S. Schuyler and Merchant
Mercado de Colores, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4345 W. 26th St. Chicago
Naperville Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon, 200 E. 5th Ave.
Northcenter Farmers Market, 8 a.m to 1 p.m., 4101 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m, 460 Lake St.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon, 152 Main St.
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 137 W. Wood St.
Park Ridge Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 15 Prairie Ave.
Plant Chicago Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Davis Square Park
61st Street Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
South Chicago Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw, Chicago
South Loop Farmers Market Printers Row, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 632 S. Dearborn St., Chicago
Streator Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, 200 N. Park St.
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
West Humboldt Chicago City Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3601 W. Chicago Ave.
Winnetka Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 510 Green Bay Rd.
Woodstock Saturday Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, Historic Woodstock Square
Sunday, September 25
Bronzeville Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4700 S. King Dr., Chicago
Buffalo Grove Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 951 McHenry Rd.
Glenwood Sunday 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., 54th St. & Old Lake Park Ave. West, Chicago
Independence Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., W. Irving Park Rd. & Hamlin, Chicago
Jefferson Park Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 4818 N. Long, Chicago
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market, 8 a.m to 1 p.m., Northwest Hwy. & Main St.
North Park Community Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5515 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1811-25 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago
95th St. Farmers Market, 8 a.m to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Roscoe Village Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, 3149 N. Wolcott, Chicago
Skokie Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5127 Oakton St.
The Dole Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
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