Saving $ at the Markets by Buying Bulk
Ever since I started writing about farmers markets, I’ve tried to illuminate the advantages of buying super-fresh food produced locally using sustainable, humane and fair practices. And I’ve tried to combat the misunderstanding that it is too expensive to shop at these markets by highlighting tips on how to save money.
As the outdoor growing and market season winds down, you’ll likely find an increasing number of bulk discounts as farmer-vendors seek to sell off end of season produce rather than letting it go to waste. As you can see in the above photo, Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) has been selling beautiful late-season bell peppers at 10 for $10, or $1 apiece — which is exactly half their price for individual items.
Which is why I bought 10 bell peppers at Wednesday’s Green City Market. Now 10 peppers may sound like quite a lot for a two-person household, especially one in which one of the residents has a strong preference for red bell peppers over green. But never fear, I had a plan in mind to make sure the peppers got used before spoiling.
The method to my madness was roasting the peppers. I seeded and trimmed the peppers, then set them, in two shifts, in a pan to roast for a half-hour at 400 degrees in the convention oven. When done, they looked like this:
There is an alternative method that many chefs prefer, which is charring peppers over an open gas flame on the stove. But our apartment has an electric stove, which doesn’t work very well for this purpose (and it can also be super-messy). Some folks also prefer to remove the charred skins, but not me.
Still, 10 roasted peppers can be a lot for a small household. So I put half, which will be easy enough to use up in a week, in a container in the refrigerator, and put the rest in the freezer for future use.
Peppers aren’t the only items that are priced to sell. For example, Smits Farms (Chicago Heights, Illinois) was selling the regular-sized zucchini in the right foreground for a buck apiece; the giant, weaponized zucchini behind them, which probably could feed a family for a week, were $2.
Here was my full Wednesday market haul (from left): cherry tomatoes, zucchini and rainbow carrots from Smits Farms; apple cider from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan); Empire apples and that big ol’ pile of green peppers from Nichols; a spicy eggplant tofu salad from Phoenix Bean (Chicago); and eggs from Finn’s Ranch (Buchanan, Michigan).
Plus, bonus coverage of my Saturday Green City Market haul (from left): Concord grapes from Mick Klug Farm; two pounds of ground beef from Finn’s Ranch; my first parsnips of the season from Nichols Farm and Orchard; a ginormous head of lettuce from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin), whose lettuce has been perfect all season; tomatoes from Growing Home (Chicago); sourdough bread from Bennison’s Bakery (Evanston), and sliced ham from Jake’s Country Meats (Cassopolis, Michigan).
I’ve had Jake’s delicious ham before. But my friend Daryn Pobanz, Jake’s master salesman, posted on Facebook about the ham on Friday, and I just had to have the ham. I’m not easily influenced by advertising, except when it comes to local food.
This Week’s Regional Farmers Market Schedule
This is the week when most of our region’s outdoor farmers markets close their 2023 seasons. There is plenty of beautiful produce left, so don’t miss this opportunity to support our local farmers.
Tuesday, October 24
Gary Comer Youth Center Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7230 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago
Lincoln Square Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
SOAR Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 226 E. Chicago Ave.
The Farmer at the Green, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 320 S. Canal St., Chicago
Wednesday, October 25
Elmhurst Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., York Road and Valette
Green City Wednesday Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Pullman City Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 11100 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago
Ravinia Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jens Jensen Park
Riverside Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Riverside Water Tower
South Chicago Wednesday Farm Stand, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw
Uptown Farmers Market, 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunnyside Mall (betw. Magnolia & Beacon), Chicago
Thursday, October 26
Austin Town Hall City Market, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., 5610 W. Lake St.
College of Lake County Farm Market, 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 19351 W. Washington, Grayslake
Daley Plaza City Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 50 W. Washington St., Chicago
Growing Home Englewood Farm Stand, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1844 W. 59th St., Chicago
LaGrange Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 53 S. LaGrange Rd.
Lincoln Square Thursday Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lincoln & Leland Aves., Chicago
PCC Austin Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 330 N. Lotus Ave., Chicago
South Chicago Thursday Farm Stand, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw
South Loop Farmers Market Grant Park, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 1201 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Friday, October 27
Gary Comer Youth Center Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7230 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago
Olde Schaumburg Center Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 190 S. Roselle Road
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Saturday, October 28
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
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
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Place and Oak Ave.
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
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 St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant 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
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
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
Sunday, October 29
Farmers Market at the Dole, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Frankfort Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Breidert Green & 1 N. White St.
Glenwood Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Glenwood Ave. betw. Morse & Lunt, Chicago
Independence Park Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., W. Irving Park Rd. & Hamlin, Chicago
Jefferson Park Farmers Market, 8a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4818 N. Long Ave., Chicago
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Maxwell Street Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northwest Hwy. & Main St.
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1821 S. Blue Island Ave., 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
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
The sunrises are still just past the edge of our building, but they are producing some really beautiful scenes.
More clouds moved in over the course of Saturday morning, but a break in the clouds produced this interesting image. So much beauty, right outside the window.