FARMERS MARKETS l The two biggest farmers markets in downtown Chicago are opening the week of May 17 — and they both have strong connections to the world of art...

FARMERS MARKETS l Chicago's Uptown Farmers Market started under elevated train tracks. But a move to a neighborhood pedestrian mall turned it from bland to beautiful

FARMERS MARKETS l Local Food Forum provides the Chicagoland Farmers Market Tracker as a resource to help people across the area to find delicious, healthy local food

FARMERS MARKETS l Libby Ervin — a farmer, entrepreneur and advocate from Southern Illinois, is the new executive direction of Illinois Farmers Market Association....

FARMERS MARKETS l As Billy Joel sang, I don't know why I go to extremes. But on Saturday, May 2, I visited 3 outdoor markets (and received a home produce delivery)

FARMERS MARKETS l This week was the first of Chicago's region season to have non-weekend outdoor markets. Read about Lincoln Square and get the Market Tracker...

FARMS AND FARMERS l Jake's Country Meats, which pastures livestock in southwest Michigan, is building a store aimed at expanding food access & building community

FARMS & FARMERS l A high sign that the Chicago region growing season is on: Home deliveries from Illinois' Three Sisters Gardene graduated from paper bags to boxes.

FARMERS MARKETS l Shoutout to the 8 outdoor markets that dared to challenge Chicago's April weather. Now brace yourself for a big May surge, which starts next weekend

FRENCH MARKETS l The French Markets that dot Chicago Metro are hybrids: They all have some food and some local farmers... but they also have a lot of non-food items