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Park That Parka! Warmup Brings Big Early-Season Crowd to Green City
- Bob Benenson
- Apr 12
- 2 min read
Chicago's Pace-Setting Farmers Market Stays on a Roll
Green City Market has long been regarded by many as Chicago's premier farmers market. In recent years, the market has blossomed into a full-blown destination.
While it is not surprising to find throngs there during peak season, a Saturday (April 12) warmup, after a stretch of chilly and mostly gray weather, brought big crowds to the Lincoln Park walkways — even though the region's outdoor growing season has just barely begun.
Ramps, the wild alliums that became a cult favorite in recent years, appeared at a couple of farmstands. But for the most part, we're still dining on root vegetables and apples put into storage last fall and over-wintered, hoophouse-grown greens.
While chatting with Steve Freeman, aka Steve the Market Guy, at the stand of Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois), I joked that except for the ramps, the market looked pretty much the way it did when the 2024 outdoor season ended last November. Steve agreed, then added, "But with less stuff."
With the advance weather forecast indicating that true spring is settling in, the regional growing season should start adding new items soon. Asparagus is usually the first outdoor crop, with rhubarb close behind; strawberries, with a growing season that ranges from a few days to a few weeks depending on weather, are typically the first fruit to kick in.
Trees are still mostly bare, but there are hints of green.
My market haul: Rainbow carrots from Frillman Farms (Berrien Springs, Michigan); Jun Bug honey kombucha (Chicago); Evercrisp apples and ramps from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan); Empire apples from Nichols; and white mushrooms from River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin).
I also got a home delivery from Three Sisters Garden (Kankakee, Illinois): Green garlic on the left, winter spinach on the right, and spring horseradish leaves, apple mint and garlic chives on the plate in the middle.
As always, Local Food Forum will keep you posted about new crop sightings.
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