Jump for July
Well, it’s that time of the year when there are new seasonal fruits and vegetables hitting the Chicago area farmers markets every time I go, and my self-control keeps getting weaker. After stops at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market and Green City Market Saturday, my haul covered the full kitchen counter for the first time this year.
And sweet corn isn’t even in season yet.
Starting on top of the toaster oven (bet you’ve never seen that description in a publication before): sourdough bread and everything bagels from Flat & Point (Chicago), green beans from Compean & Sons (Huntington, Indiana), also the source of the little plums and mindblowingly sweet cherry tomatoes on the lower right; Rainier cherries from Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan), also responsible for the red raspberries to the right of the carrots below; apricots from Stover’s Farm (Berrien Springs, Michigan); green leaf lettuce and pork bones (explanation below) from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin); carrots from Tomato Mountain (Brooklyn, Wisconsin); hot dogs (for July 4th) and boneless pork roast from Jake’s Country Meats (Cassopolis, Michigan); horseradish-chive havarti from Stamper Cheese (Chicago); sugar snap peas and (very) new potatoes from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois); and sour pickles from Pickled Prince (Chicago).
About the pork bones. I’m planning to make some lentil and split pea soups, and a little trick I learned from a butcher a while ago is to use pork bones instead of a smoked ham hock for a little meaty touch. It’s more subtle, which is fine (Barb isn’t a big fan of smoky flavors).
Also, we need to reload on the delicious popcorn from Three Sisters Garden (Kankakee, Illinois), and as long as they were delivering anyway, I added in chives, apple mint and bergamot, an herb best known for providing the flavoring in Early Grey tea.
Don’t worry, it will all get eaten, though I may be paying mostly social visits to farmers markets over the next few days.
Tempted? If you’re reading this on Sunday morning, you have time to visit these awesome farmers markets open today:
Sunday, July 3
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
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.
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.
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Need more incentive? Here are some photos of some first-in-season (at least for me) produce. Have a great day!
And a bonus photo of me and dear friend Elsa Jacobson, manager of The Lincoln Park Farmers Market: