Ready or Not, Summer's Last Weekend Markets
Leaves are still green in Chicago, but the temps (and the pumpkins) hint of fall
I can read a calendar as well as anyone, but it’s still a little hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the Saturday Green City Market was the last before autumn.
Time really does fly. For the record, the autumnal equinox takes place next Saturday (September 23) at 1:49 a.m. This Saturday could be considered a preview, with its cloudy skies, cool (but not sweater weather) temperatures, and a rising number of fall things (pumpkins, gourds, winter squash, sweet potatoes) on the tables.
Yet as underscored by this colorful display of cherry tomatoes at the stand of Froggy Meadow Farm (Beloit, Wisconsin), there is still plenty of summer produce to be had if you act soon. This actually is one of the best times in the year to hit a farmers market: Many local food fans strive to eat seasonally, and there are only a couple of periods each season when we get to enjoy the best of two seasons at once.
My market haul: grapes and Bartlett pears from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan); SunGold tomatoes from Froggy Meadow Farm; lettuce and small gourd pumpkins from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin) and chioggia beets and carrots from Tomato Mountain Farm (Brooklyn, Wisconsin).
This week’s regional farmers market schedule is below, after these event notices.
Nourishing Hope Gala is September 29
Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is holding a live gala on Friday, September 29 at the Geraghty events center, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave.
One of Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food pantries, Nourishing Hope’s mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in our community by providing food to fill the basic need of hungry people; empowering their clients to gain independence through innovative social service programs; and raising awareness of hunger and poverty and working towards solutions to eliminate them.
Here are the details from one of Chicago’s outstanding non-profits, followed by a link to buy tickets.
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This year, we are hosting the event in person at The Geraghty on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 6 p.m. Join us to honor the impact of Nourishing Hope and our partners over the past year.
Fabulous silent auction prizes, right from your smartphone
Raise your paddle to support operating expenses and bid on exciting live auction packages
Live entertainment and dancing!
Help us raise $900,000 for Nourishing Hope’s vital community programs. Your support provides food for today and hope for tomorrow to our Chicago neighbors.
Experimental Station Fall FĂªte Brunch October 7
Experimental Station is the Chicago non-profit that runs the 61st Street Farmers Market in the South Side neighborhood of Woodlawn; the Link Up Illinois program that enables markets around the state to double the value of purchases made by recipients of the Illinois Link food assistance program; and Blackstone Bicycle Works, which empowers youths through bicycle education.
You can help support Experimental Station’s important work by attending its Fall FĂªte brunch that will be held on Saturday, October 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the organization’s headquarters, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave.
The $40 ticket price covers only the cost of the brunch. When you sign up, you will be asked to make an additional donation pledge: “You can fulfill your pledge at the event or today by visiting www.experimentalstation.org/donate after completing your ticket purchase.