FARMERS MARKETS l No two growing seasons are exactly alike. Happily, in the Chicago region, this season has been superb... and much of the produce is super-sized...

FARMS & FARMERS l How many volunteers does it take to pick a garlic bulb? Find out by pitching in at Garlic eScape Farm, located in the Chicago exurb of Woodstock...

FARMERS MARKETS l A flawed rain forecast sent Bob of Local Food Forum to the farmers market super-early, but there was a upside to Bob's Farmers Market Sweep...

FARMERS MARKETS l A Natural Awakenings Chicago essay by Local Food Forum outlines best reasons to shop at farmer markets. And check out a blueberry crumble recipe...

FARMERS MARKETS l Many local food lovers have a favorite for which they wait in anticipation of peak season. In Chicago, this was a good week for tomato & melon fans

FOOD CO-OPS l There are just a handful of food co-ops in the Chicago area and most opened recently. So the 10th anniversary of Sugar Beet Co-op is worth celebrating

LOCAL FOOD l The first home delivery of Three Sisters Garden's renowned sweet corn is a local food event of the year. Local Food Forum celebrates the occasion...

FARMERS MARKETS l Local food fans cherish this time of the year; for many, sweet corn is the king. You'll be having some royal corn feasts, because the ears are here

FARMERS MARKETS l There's a new online publication, Farmers Market Forum, with a laser focus on local food. And the publisher is a Local Food Forum subscriber!...

CHEF PHILANTHROPY l Frontera Farmer Foundation, founded in 2003 by Chef Rick Bayless, has helped hundreds of farmers with a total of more than $3 million in grants...