Forecast: Nice Weather, Prolific Produce
Also, good news on good food for Illinois schoolchildren
Yep, I Actually Use Up the Food I Buy
While last weekend’s market haul may have seemed epic, I actually do run out of stuff now and then. On Tuesday morning, I head to SOAR Farmers Market in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood because we were flat out of onions, garlic, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes and sourdough bread.
OK, so I added a few other items while I was there. All to support our local producers. Of course.
Yes, Virginia, there is still some asparagus in July; I got a couple of bunches from Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan), also the source of the strawberries and blueberries. There are sweet onions and tomatoes from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois); potatoes and baby carrots (they make great healthy snacks!) from Lane’s End Farm (Lowell, Indiana); cherry tomatoes from Lyons Fruit Farm (Fennville, Michigan); sourdough bread from Bennison’s Bakery (Evanston, Illinois); and peanut tofu salads from Phoenix Bean (Chicago).
Your Chicago Region Farmers Market Schedule
Ooops. I planned to run the weekly market schedule yesterday, but stuff came up and I didn’t get a newsletter out. So here it is, and I’ll preview next Tuesday’s markets because they got a little short shrift.
The good news is that it looks like we’re in for a stretch of lovely outdoor shopping weather. According to Weather.com, the weekend forecast is sunny, with a high of 74 on Saturday and 80 on Sunday.
Get some fresh air and good food.
Wednesday, July 6
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, July 7
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, July 8
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.
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, July 9
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, July 10
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., 5510 N. Christiana 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
Monday, June 11
Edgewater Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 5917 N. Broadway, Chicago
Hinsdale Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 E. Chicago Ave.
Tuesday, July 12
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
More High-Quality Local Food for IL Schools
The Better School Lunches Act — one of the year’s highest legislative priorities for Illinois Stewardship Alliance and other advocates for a better food system — is now law in the state of Illinois.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure, which lifts the requirement that school systems choose the contractor who submitted the lowest-cost bid to provide meals for school students. The new law holds out the potential for students, including those from families with low incomes, to receive better-tasting, more nutritious food, and creates greater opportunities for local food producers to participate in school food programs in their areas.
Here is the release from Illinois Stewardship Alliance hailing the enactment of the measure.
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Governor Pritzker has signed the Better School Lunches Act!
Because of your support, the power of food purchasing has been put back into the hands of Illinois school districts and the communities they serve.
The Better School Lunches Act is creating new opportunities to bring healthy food into schools by removing the lowest price bid requirement for food service provider contracts. This is an advancement in Illinois school food procurement code as it improves school lunches, increases equity for low-income and minority students, and creates new opportunities for farm-to-school.
“Illinois students deserve healthy, sustainable food options at every turn.,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Schools are a haven. They are where our state’s children spend most of their time outside of the home—and our schools provide reliable, consistent meals for students, day in and day out. With this legislation, Illinois’ schools will be able to serve nutritious food options without having to jump through unnecessary, bureaucratic hoops.”
Members of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s farmer-led Caucuses prioritized this bill as a primary campaign with hopes that it will begin paving the way for better farm-to-school initiatives across the state while also increasing equity in their local school districts.
Caucus member Jeff Hake, farmer at Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains and founding member of FarmFED Cooperative, says, "The Better School Lunches Act represents an opportunity for farmers not only to greatly expand their market opportunities and grow their businesses, but to fulfill a mission. Farms like ours are invested in feeding our communities, and this legislation goes a long way to enabling us to feed our youngest generation the freshest, most nutritious food possible."
The legislation was supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Chicago Public Schools, ED-RED, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois Heart Association, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Principals Association, Indian Prairie School District 240, Large Unit District Association, Woodridge School District, West Aurora School District, Joliet School District 86, LEND and the FIP Action Fund, Healthy Schools Campaign, and Community Organizing and Family Issues.