Travelers make pit stops for sweet corn and peaches along the road for a reason: The foreign allure of the fresh-from-the-vine fruits and vegetables that are absent from suburban life. Luckily, your urban veggie experience isn't restricted to chain shopping, and it certainly doesn't require a car (just a backpack or strong biceps, perhaps). Chicago offers a bevy of long-standing, excellent markets that bring the best of the farm to your neighborhood. These mostly weekly events feature a solid dose of Americana; stands burst with rhubarb, basil, flowers and homemade breads.
Expect to pay a bit more. You won't see 99-cent containers of strawberries, but you won't see rotting, pale red berries either. Expect to get up a bit earlier, too. Most markets open at 7 a.m. and call it quits by mid-afternoon.
Post our guide on the fridge; it's a daily breakdown of where the produce is, with a few notable markets highlighted. You'll also want to check out a variety of Web sites, including the city's (Cityofchicago.org). In addition to a market roster, the site offers information on what's in season, lest you get a premature hankering for sweet potatoes.
Green City Market
A great stop for both new-to-the-scene and experienced marketers, Green City Market is truly a family of local producers, farmers, restauranteurs and chefs. Opening on Saturdays (hallelujah) for the first time this year, past producers include Blue Skies Berry, Red Hen Bakery, Herbally Yours, Romein's Cut Flowers and more, including Nichols Farm & Orchard, which always boasts a staggering number of strawberry varieties. In addition to berries, you'll find cut and potted herbs, heirloom tomatoes, organic free-range chicken, gourmet vinegars and a mean crepes stand that uses fillings gleaned from neighboring booths.
Green City Market doesn't just give you genetically modified-free foods harvested by small local farmers within a day or two or the market; it shows you how to prepare them. The market's chef demos feature some of Chicago's best, including Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo, Stephanie Izard of Scylla, Noah Bekofsky of Aria and Paul Kahan of Blackbird, who heat things up Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Daley Plaza
A lunchbreak destination of choice, this downtown market provides a temporary escape from the concrete jungle. Duck out of your stale corporate space around noon and peruse booths replete with fruits and vegetables; expect a strong presence by flower sellers.
Edgewater
There's no need to trek downtown for organic produce. This weekly farmers' market is stocked with fruits and veggies, compliments of Kings Hill Farm Cooperative and True Nature Foods. You'll also find jams, flowers, honey and breads from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In the past, Soul Cafe has sold fair-trade coffee to help rouse early risers, while Soothe Your Senses presented bath salts, eye tea and massage oil to wind down your day with. Additional specialty vendors participate on the third Saturday of each month.
Oak Park Farmers' Market
What better time than summer to take a jaunt to the Frank Lloyd Wright-heavy village of Oak Park? And what better way to return than laden with fresh veggies? Offering locally grown produce in a setting that heralds back to those early Arts & Crafts days, the Saturday market is an Oak Park tradition that has been selling the good stuff since 1974. Described as a "gastronomic event," you'll find the air full of bluegrass tunes and the scent of freshly made old fashioned cake donuts, whose wafts of doughy goodness have proven potent enough to rouse even the most determined sleeper. You'll also find a wide variety of just-plucked-from-the-tree produce, traditional and unusual flowers and plants, artisanal cheeses, honey, vinegars, herbs and more. A bag check area lets you temporarily set down your load while you enjoy other local goodies.
Evanston Farmers Market
Just east of Ridge Avenue sits one of the area's latest-running markets, which fills those canvas bags until the first week in November. For nearly 30 years, this Evanston market has served up crowd-pleasing produce, meat, cheeses, flowers and bakery items. Free parking is available in the Maple Avenue parking garage, making getting in and out a snap.
Northfield Farmers Market
Rainy Saturday got you down? Hop in the car and take a trip to Northfield, where you'll reap vitamin-filled rewards thanks to the town's rain-or-shine farmers market. In addition to seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables, you'll find Wisconsin cheeses, maple syrup, honey, just-from-the-oven breads, herbal soaps and fresh cut flowers. Now in its 28th year, vendors include Spice Daddy, Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe, Wild Horses Specialty Foods and Lehmans Orchards.
Don't miss these other weekly markets, which take over pockets of the city from the heart of downtown to the edge of Rogers Park.
Tuesdays
Federal Plaza, at Adams and Dearborn
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; through Oct. 25
Lincoln Square, at Lincoln, Leland and Western
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 7-Oct. 25
Museum of Contemporary Art, at Chicago and Mies van der Rohe Way
10 a.m.-6 p.m.; June 14-Oct. 18
Prudential Plaza, at Lake and Beaubien Court
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 14-Oct. 18
Wednesdays
Gately/Pullman, at 111th and Cottage Grove
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 15-Oct. 15
Lawndale, at Grenshaw and Homan
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 15-Oct. 19
South Shore, at 70th and Jeffery
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 15-Oct. 26
Thursdays
Dunning-Eli's/Wright College, at Montrose and Forest Preserve Avenue
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 16- Oct. 13
Hyde Park, at 52nd and Harper
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 16-Oct. 22
The Park at Jackson and Wacker
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 16- Oct. 20
Saturdays
Bronzeville, at 30th and King Drive
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 22
Lincoln Park, at Armitage and Orchard
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; through Oct. 29
Morgan Park, at 92nd and Ashland
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 22
Near North, at Division and Dearborn
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 22
North Center, at Damen and Lincoln
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 22
North Halsted, at Grace, Broadway and Halsted
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18- Oct. 22
Printer's Row, at Dearborn and Polk
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 22
Sundays
Beverly, at 95th and Longwood
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; through Oct. 23
Roscoe Village, at Belmont and Wolcott
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 19-Oct. 23
West Lawn, at 65th and Pulaski
8 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 19-Oct. 23
Wicker Park/Bucktown, at Wicker Park along Damen
7 a.m.-2 p.m., June 19-Oct. 23
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