You Don’t See This Every Day
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that folks reading Local Food Forum have a pretty good handle on all of the everyday produce items. So I’m always on the lookout for the unusual, and I found a good one during my visit to Ravinia Farmers Market’s 45th anniversary celebration in Highland Park Wednesday (August 9).
This variety of summer squash is primarily known as tromboncino. This is derived from the Italian word for trombone, which this vegetable supposedly resembles, though I’m not sure I see it. Fortunately, it is known by several alternative names: zucchetta rampicante, zucchino rampicante, climbing zucchini, climbing crookneck, trombolino d’albenga, trombetta, and serpentine squash. So take your pick.
Despite its unique appearance, the tromboncino is used much as you’d use any other summer squash. Says the Speciality Produce site:
Tromboncino squash is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as steaming, grilling, sautéing, baking and roasting. The squash can be sliced raw and served in green salads or layered in sandwiches. It can also be used to stuff ravioli or made into gnocchi, bread, fritters, casseroles, cakes, soups, and stews. Tromboncino squash pairs well with citrus, tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, meats such as sausage, poultry, or beef, Italian cheeses such as parmesan, risotto, and mozzarella, goat cheese, beets, rice, barley, polenta, pasta, and other summer vegetables like eggplant. As a summer squash, it will keep up to a week when stored whole in the refrigerator. As a winter squash, it can be stored whole for 1-3 months in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Specialty Produce adds that this squash “is an excellent source of potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids” and “also contains antioxidants such as vitamins A and C.”
If you see any unique-looking produce you’d like to share with your fellow readers, let me know.
Ravinia Farmers Market’s Longevity Milestone
I took the 50-minute Metra train ride to Ravinia Farmers Market in north suburban Highland Park Wednesday because its 45th anniversary is indeed worth celebrating. In 1978, there were just a few hundred farmers markets across the United States. Today, there are almost as many in Illinois alone, with nearly 9,000 across the nation. So Ravinia was doing its farmers market thing long before farmers markets were cool.
Ed Kugler, Ravinia’s market manager for the past seven years, has seen it all. He was one of the founding vendors in 1978, selling organic sprouts, salads and baked goods. He has dedicated his life to introducing people to the benefits of eating organic and making better food and product choices.
Here’s that tromboncino, keeping company with the more recognizable pattypan squash at the stand of Natural Environments, located in Lake Zurich and owned by Robert Boyce, a registered landscape architect who is also a horticulturist and regenerative agriculture specialist.
The first part of the event was the regular Wednesday farmers market. It was a pleasure seeing the market full of neighborhood folks enjoying the farm-fresh local food and each other’s company. I’d only been to Ravinia Farmers Market once before, in July 2022, just days after the horrendous mass shooting during the July 4th parade in downtown Highland Park a couple of miles north. The community was still in shock, and the market, not well attended that day, had a somber atmosphere.
My lunch consisted of two chicken tacos from the Ravinia Brewing stand, washed down with a tasty key lime pie sour called Key Strokes. [Note to self: advocate for more craft beer at farmers markets.]
The award for artistic food display goes to Kaleido Greens (Chicago), which spelled out Ravinia in microgreens.
I bought my first pears of the season from Klug Orchards (Berrien Center, Michigan), not to be confused with Mick Klug Farm of St. Joseph, Michigan.
This lovely display was at the stand of Adam’s Acres, an organic farm in Grayslake, Illinois.
My friends at Fresh Picks (Niles, Illinois) were there representing their e-commerce service for home delivery of locally sourced food.
The afternoon brought the beginning of the Taste of Ravinia festival that celebrated both the Ravinia market’s 45th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Ravinia Neighbors Association. Entertainment included the very talented Pierce Crask…
… and these very young students at Lake Forest’s Fitzgerald School of Irish Dance.
Many of the regular market vendors cycled out and were replaced by new ones, including Windy City Mushrooms and Raw Urth Soap.
Ravinia Brewing added its beer truck with brews on tap (I only had the one with lunch, I swear!).
Alas, life goes on and I had to head back to the big city with this market haul: sorrel from Adam’s Acres; pears from Klug Orchards; and that twisty squash, little sweet bell peppers, zucchini and Hen Peck sweet collard greens from Natural Environments.
This Weekend’s Regional Market Schedule
National Farmers Market Week ends Saturday. Don’t miss the chance to let your local market and vendors know how important a role farmers markets play in your community and your kitchen.
Friday, August 11
Gary Comer Youth Center Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7230 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sheridan Rd. & E. Scranton Ave.
Lake Zurich Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 200 S. Rand Rd.
North Point Marina Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., 701 North Point Dr. Winthrop Harbor
Olde Schaumburg Center Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 190 S. Roselle Road
Olive-Harvey College’s Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
The Market by the River, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 333 W. Wolf Point Plaza, Chicago
Saturday, August 12
Aurora Farmers Market Downtown, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 65 Water St.
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow 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 Avenue between Jewett Park & Hazel
Division Street City Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 100 W. Division St., Chicago
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Main St. Train Station
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., 6525-6540 N. Hiawatha Ave., 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 Sts., Chicago
Garfield Park Neighborhood Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 135 N. Kedzie, Chicago
Glenview Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1510 Wagner Rd.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Homewood Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Martin Square
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., Town Square
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.
Mundelein Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Park St.
Naperville Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 200 E. 5th Ave.
Northcenter Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4100 Damen Ave.
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 460 Lake Ave.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 152 Main St.
Park Ridge Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 15 Prairie Ave.
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palatine Train Station
Park City Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 333 Teske Blvd
Plant Chicago Mini-Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4459 S. Marshfield Ave., Chicago*
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
South Chicago Farmstand, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw, Chicago
Streator Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Streator City Park
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Tinley Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 17375 S. Oak Park Ave.
West Humboldt Park 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 Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
*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.