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All Ears — More Farms Enter the Corn King Competition at Chicago Markets
- Bob Benenson
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
I only found the first of this year's sweet corn crop at one vendor on Saturday (July 11). But on Tuesday, just three days later, during my visit to downtown Chicago's SOAR Market, there were big 1st of season piles of corn at the stands of Smits Farms (Chicago Heights, Illinois) in the photo above, and Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) in the photo below.
And in another sign that Chicago is all ears, my friend Tracey Vowell at Three Sisters Garden in Kankakee, Illinois, sent out a newsletter today announcing that her first sweet corn is available for delivery to select Chicago area zip codes this Saturday (July 18). Tracey had a setback due to a March tornado that missed her by a half-mile but still damaged her first corn planting. So I am happy to see that corn — her signature crop — is coming in just a little late.
That said, there is a limited supply this week, so if you want to see what I'm talking about, click the button below to get your order in. (And yes, I have already placed my order.)
And my modest Tuesday market haul: green beans from Nichols; sweet corn from Smits Farms; and SunGold cherry tomatoes and strawberries from Noffke Family Farms (Berrien Springs, Michigan). It has been one of the region's longest strawberry seasons, lasting about two months, but since most strawberries hate heat, this may be the last call.
Another busy peak-season weekend is coming. Local Food Forum will publish the weekly update of its Chicago Region Farmers Market Tracker tomorrow (June 16).
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