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I Don't Need No Cure for These Summertime Blues
- Bob Benenson
- a few seconds ago
- 2 min read
The Last Saturday of Spring Was a Berry Cherry Good Day
I've noted that most of our major Chicago region crops are arriving at our farmers markets on the early side. So I wasn't surprised — but pleased — when I visited Green City Market in Lincoln Park Saturday and saw this tableau on the table of Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan).
This heralded the arrival of blueberries and sweet cherries, which sometimes don't hit town until July, which took their places alongside the previously established strawberries and raspberries.
It would be hard to exactly replicate the up-and-down weather patterns during the spring season, which concluded yesterday (June 21) with the summer solstice: periods of above- and below-average temperatures, drought conditions followed by frequent rain. Whatever it is, our food crops appear to love it.
Not only are we getting these early arrivals, but favorite spring crops are lasting longer than usual. Asparagus, which made its 2026 debut in mid-April, was still abundantly available on Saturday. Strawberries, which can have a very short season if the weather isn't up to their specs, arrived in mid-May and were still going strong.
As more and more of the peak season crops arrive, the markets continue to improve upon their photogenic eat-the-rainbow appearance.
And my market haul:
Fresh Vidalia onions, sugar snap peas, English peas and (on the toaster) spinach from Nichols Farm & Orchard (Marengo, Illinois); SunGold cherry tomatoes from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin); strawberries and blueberries from Ellis Family Farms; asparagus and sweet cherries from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan) and chicken wings from Finn's Ranch (Buchanan, Michigan).
This has been an exceptional growing season so far. Maybe, as the old song said, life really is just...
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