Zucchi-Dokey... Summer Squash Is On!
Roscoe Village Grand Opening and This Week's Suburban/Exurban Markets
In This Issue
• Roscoe Village Opens: In Praise of Small Markets
• This Week’s Chicago Metro Outer Suburb and Exurban Market Schedule
Roscoe Village Opens: In Praise of Small Markets
There are good reasons why the biggest Chicago area farmers markets — such as Green City, Downtown Evanston and Logan Square — are so popular. Dozens of vendors, a festival atmosphere, often with musical accompaniment.
But there is something lovely about the smaller neighborhood markets that now dot the regional landscape by the dozen. They are cozy, you have lots of opportunity to get to know the vendors, and they are awash with a feeling of community and neighborliness even if you are visiting from outside.
Such is the case with the brand new Roscoe Village Farmers Market, which opened at 9:30 a.m. today (Sunday). There were a handful of vendors surrounding the outdoor basketball court at Jahn Elementary School at the corner of Belmont Avenue and Wolcott Street in West Lakeview. In that small space, several dozen visitors felt like a lively crowd (and there is plenty of room for growth in the schoolyard).
We are edging toward one of the great transitional periods in our region’s produce growing season, and I was thrilled — yes, I’m that much into food — to spy my first zucchini of the season. I bought three good-sized summer squash from Los Rodriguez Farm of Eau Claire, Michigan, which this year has greatly expanded its presence at Chicago markets.
Now I’ve written before that I love asparagus. Its arrival in early May, mostly from the asparagus-growing kingdom of western Michigan, signals the official arrival of spring. It’s still in season and in fact I bought three more bunches from the Los Rodriguez folks.
But variety is the spice of life and I’ve been approaching asparagus fatigue, so the arrival of summer squash just ahead of the first day of summer next Sunday is welcome. Zucchini and yellow squash are versatile and I use them in soups, stews, salads, sautés, quick breads and other stuff.
Nutrition-wise, summer squash are high in potassium and Vitamins C and B-6, and have significant amounts of magnesium and Vitamin A.
So get out to a market this week and get squashed!
Roscoe Village Farmers Market is presented by the Lakeview-Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, which also runs the Low-Line Market adjacent to the CTA’s Southport Brown Line station on Thursday evenings. The Roscoe Village market is open Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jahn Elementary School, 3149 N. Wolcott at Belmont.
This Week’s Chicago Outer Suburb/Exurb Markets
(* denotes season opening market)
Monday, June 14
Hinsdale Farmers Market, 30 E. Chicago Ave., Hinsdale, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 15
Fox Lake Farmers Market, 17 E. School Ct., Fox Lake, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sycamore Farmers Market, 403 Edward St., Sycamore, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16
Elmhurst Farmers Market, 541 S. York St., Elmhurst, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northbrook Farmers Market, 1975 Cherry Lane, Northbrook, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.*
Palos Heights Farmers Market, 12217 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ravinia Farmers Market, Jen Jensen Park, Highland Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Riverside Farmers Market, 10 Pine Ave., Riverside, 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 17
Barrington Farmers Market, 200 Park Ave., Barrington, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.*
Glencoe Farmers Market,Wyman Square, Glencoe*, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
LaGrange Farmers Market, 53 S. LaGrange Rd., LaGrange, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Libertyville Farmers Market, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, June 18
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, Village Green, Lake Bluff, 7 a.m. to noon
Lake Zurich Farmers Market, 200 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mundelein Farmers Market, 10 W. Park St., Mundelein, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.*
Schaumberg Farmers Market, 190 S. Roselle Rd., Schaumberg, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Charles Farmers Market, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, June 19
Brookfield Farmers Market, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Crystal Lake Farmers Market, Depot Park, Crystal Lake, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Deerfield Farmers Market, 828-836 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield*, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 5001 Main St., Downers Grove, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Elk Grove Farmers Market, 901 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Glenview Farmers Market, 1510 Wagner Rd., Glenview, 8 a.m. to noon*
Grayslake Farmers Market, 201 Center St., Grayslake, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Homewood Farmers Market, 18020 Martin Ave., Homewood, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Huntley Farmers Market, 11704 W. Coral St., Huntley, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kankakee Farmers Market, S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St., Kankakee, 8 a.m. to noon
Naperville Farmers Market, 200 E. 5th Ave., Naperville, 7 a.m. to noon
Palatine Farmers Market, Smith and Wood Sts. (Train Station), Palatine, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 152 Main St., Park Forest, 7 a.m to noon
Streator Farmers Market, Streator City Park, Streator, 8 a.m to noon
Winnetka Farmers Market, 510 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Woodstock Farmers Market, Historic Woodstock Square, Woodstock, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 20
Buffalo Grove Farmers Market, 951 McHenry Rd., Buffalo Grove* 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mount Prospect Farmers Market, Northwest Highway & Emerson St., Mount Prospect, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Click links below to find other regional markets at:
Illinois Farmers Market Association
Michigan Farmers Market Association
Wisconsin Farmers Market Association