FARMERS MARKET REPORTER l Veteran market manager Ed Kugler ventured from Chicago's South Side to the city's southwest suburbs to attend outdoor season openings for two prominent markets

FARMERS MARKETS l Chicago on Saturday was definitely a windy Windy City. This article recaps visits to two farmers markets that capped a week of weather that was weird even for Chicago

FARMERS MARKETS l Daley Plaza Farmers Market, a pillar of Chicago's local food community, has one thing no other area farmers market has: an internationally significant work of art

FARMERS MARKETS l A generally cool early spring is slowing the arrival of some seasonal crops. Rhubarb has joined asparagus in great piles on farmers market tables, but not a lot of a variety yet

LOCAL FOOD l There are so many ways to support local farmers, including farmers markets, CSA subscriptions and farm stores. I don't often hit all three in one day, but that's how this past Saturday played out

SOIL HEALTH l I'd learned a lot about cover crops and other natural soil supplements. But it wasn't until I attended a sheep shearing demo that I first heard about wool as a soil supplement

FARMERS MARKETS l Green City Market, a leader in Chicago's farmers market community, introduced Letisha "Tish" Steele as its new executive director. She recently served in food access and sustainability roles in Denver

FARM AID l Farm Aid — the advocate for family farmers and a better food system — announced that its 40th anniversary festival will be held in Minneapolis Sept. 20...

FARMERS MARKETS l What are now populous suburbs not far outside Chicago were still farm towns not too long ago. Today, you're most likely to see a farmer in Palatine at their weekly farmers market

FARMERS MARKETS l Farmers markets are life for Local Food Forum & mid-week markets are a great brain break. A travelogue from Chicago's Green City and Uptown markets