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BREAKING NEWS! 1ST OF SEASON STRAWBERRIES HIT CHICAGO
- Bob Benenson
- May 19
- 2 min read
Routine visit to SOAR Market Opening Day Turned Special
SOAR Farmers Market in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood is one of my personal favorites (the explanation is in the article about the biggest downtown farmers markets linked here).
To date, the biggest news of this early growing season has been an avalanche of asparagus — mostly from Michigan, the nation's number-one asparagus grower — which started in mid-April and continues to go strong. Given the up-and-down temperatures our region has experienced this spring, and I had no great expectations when I headed to SOAR for the first of its Tuesday outdoor markets this morning (May 19).
When what to my wondering eyes did appear...
... my first tableful of strawberries, at the stand of my friends at Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan).
Strawberries are the first fan favorite fruit to hit Chicago area markets each year. We never know when they are going to announce themselves — May 19 is on the early side — or how long they are going to stay. A long season is still just a few weeks; a short one is blink and you'll miss it.
So if you're one of us who can't wait for some strawberry bliss, get out to a market soon (disclaimer: not all fruit vendors at all markets will have them yet). To explore, click below for Local Food Forum's Outdoor Market Tracker, and look for our weekly update on Thursday.
BTW, the Breaking News headline was meant to be facetious. On the other hand, wouldn't it be a nicer world if there was more breaking news about healthy, delicious, sustainably produced food, and less about Donald Trump?
Also notable is the expanded variety of hothouse heirloom tomatoes at the stand of Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois), including these incredible beauties...
These are indigo tomatoes, so called because of the bluish tones in their skins. Aside from being pretty, these tomatoes are regarded as super-healthy, as they contain large amounts of anthocyanins — powerful antioxidants that also give blueberries their reputation as superfoods.
And speaking of pretty, how about these chives with their blossoms? The flowers are edible and also make a tasty and vibrantly colored vinegar.
Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital is directly across from the market's southern end, and a number of the medical personnel enjoy the weekly access to all this beautiful local food.
Finally, today's market haul: Indigo tomatoes and a cucumber from Nichols; strawberries (of course) and asparagus from Ellis; cremini mushrooms from River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin); and chicken wings (pastured-raised birds) from Finn's Ranch (Buchanan, Michigan).
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