In This Issue
• A Careful Opening Toward a New Normal
• Market Opening Days
• Take a Quiz
A Careful Opening Toward a New Normal
The photos in this issue are reminders of June 13, 2020 — a farmers market opening day like none other.
The bans on public gatherings prompted by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic affected farmers markets, delaying the start of the 2020 outdoor market season. Even after the Illinois and Chicago governments determined that farmers markets, as food sellers, were essential businesses, it took time to institute the rules and regs to keep vendors and customers safe.
When opening day arrived, seven weeks late, we knew immediately that it was different. The mask requirement, while not the most pleasant thing, made it a safe place for those of us who were taking that precaution already. There were lines everywhere as “no touching” rules required us to place our orders for the vendors to pick out. Social distancing was monitored and enforced
And yet… we were so happy to be there. I never suffered from social isolation during the pandemic, in part because my very busy job then with FamilyFarmed included multiple Zoom meetings and webinars that kept me in touch with people, and because I have a very active social media life. Yet those weekly visits to Green City Market were the only occasions over the past 13+ months in which I was able to see and say hello to large numbers of friends in the flesh.
It was home.
The pandemic, sadly, isn’t over yet, and so safety protocols will remain in place. While the ethos of “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” will be in effect, “Hug Your Farmer, Touch Your Food” will trail a bit behind. But this year the official kickoff is scheduled to take place on May 1, the first Saturday in May, as it’s supposed to.
So we’re counting the days. It’s Monday, April 19, and there are just 12 days to go.
— Bob
Market Opening Dates
We did our homework last week and dug up a whole bunch of market opening dates, including two more on Saturday, May 1 south of the city, in Kankakee (Barb’s old hometown) and Park Forest.
Local Food Forum aims to be a platform for the whole Chicago food region, but a newsletter has limitations as a format for long lists of things. So for the time being I’m limiting the Market Monday list to the Chicago metro counties within Illinois, but… I will include links to the Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA) list when it is soon posted along with the lists for the Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin farmers market associations. I am also contemplating extending the LFF list to the counties in northwest Indiana and southeast Wisconsin that are within Chicago metro.
The following is the last full Market Monday opening date list. Next Monday is the last before the May 1 season kickoff, and I will switch to a day by day list of the active markets plus a short list of markets scheduled to open the following week.
And away we go…
Saturday, April 10
Saturday, April 17
Saturday, May 1
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market
Green City Market Lincoln Park Chicago (Saturday)
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market Chicago
Sunday, May 2
95th Street Farmers Market Chicago (tentative)
Tuesday, May 4
Lincoln Square Tuesday Morning Farmers Market Chicago
Wednesday, May 5
Green City Market Lincoln Park Chicago (Wednesday)
Thursday, May 6
Lincoln Square Thursday Evening Farmers Market Chicago
Saturday, May 8
Sunday, May 9
Logan Square Farmers Market Chicago
Wicker Park Farmers Market Chicago
Wednesday, May 12
Andersonville Farmers Market Chicago
Saturday, May 15
61st Street Farmers Market Chicago
Saturday, May 22
Saturday, May 29
Huntley Farmers Market [note below]
South Loop Farmers Market Printer’s Row Chicago
Monday, May 31
Tuesday, June 1
SOAR Farmers Market Chicago Streeterville
Wednesday, June 2
Thursday, June 3
Low-Line Market Chicago (Lakeview)
Friday, June 4
Saturday, June 5
Green City Market West Loop Chicago
Horner Park Farmers Market Chicago
Sunday, June 6
Glenwood Sunday Market Chicago
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market
Portage Park Farmers Market Chicago
Saturday, June 12
Aurora Farmers Market Downtown
Sunday, June 13
Jefferson Park Farmers Market (tentative) Chicago
Wednesday, June 16
Ravenswood Farmers Market Chicago
Thursday, June 17
South Loop Farmers Market Prairie District Chicago
Friday, June 18
Saturday, June 19
Note: Huntley Farmers Market hosts an indoor/outdoor market on May 8.
Take a Quiz
Green City Market’s outdoor location is located closest to which Chicago public attraction?
a) Chicago Riverwalk
b) Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
c) Lincoln Park Zoo
d) Guaranteed Rate Park
Answer: c) Green City Market’s flagship location at the south end of Lincoln Park is located across Stockton Drive from the Lincoln Park Zoo.