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Peppers Are Practically Screaming at You to Eat The Rainbow
- Bob Benenson
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Get a Load at What's Still Peak Season in Chicagoland
I popped into Green City Market for my last August farmers market visit of 2026. I confirmed that the peak summer growing season is still in full swing... and the summer/autumn overlap has begun.
The above photo shows a bounty of bell peppers of many colors. The slogan "eat the rainbow" means we should eat a variety of produce colors because each represents different health-boosting phytonutrients. Buy a variety of these bell peppers at the stand of Nichols Farm & Orchard (Marengo, Illinois), and they represent most of a rainbow right there.
Representing the fall transition is the rising infusion of local apples. What's interesting is that we pretty much skipped the tart summer apple varieties (I'm going to look into why) and skipped to the more popular, sweeter fall varieties. Those above are Zestar apples at the stand of Ellis Family Farm (Benton Harbor, Michigan); across the market Hillside Orchards (Berrien Springs, Michigan) had the super-popular Honeycrisps.
My market haul provides a sampler of what's available at our markets going into September. From left: cremini mushrooms from River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin); English muffins from Dorothy's Bakery (Chicago); SunGold cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, red bell peppers and zucchini from Nichols; eggs from Finn's Ranch (Buchanan, Michigan); and blueberries, apples and plums from Ellis Family Farms.
I also received a delivery box on Saturday from Three Sisters Garden in Kankakee, Illinois. It came with the usual beautiful produce — and some sad seasonal news.
The watermelon on right is the last I'll get from the farm this year because the crop is done. As I've written previously, farmer Tracey Vowell often sends me at least one enormous watermelon each year; last year's mega-melon weighed in at 27 pounds. This year they came in smaller — though at more than 14 pounds, this one is a lot bigger than your average watermelon.
Also, Tracey noted in her latest newsletter than sweet corn — her trademark crop — is nearing its endgame, and her next corn delivery to Chicago-area customers on Wednesday (September 2) will be the last.
Two important notes:
This does not mean the region's sweet corn and watermelon seasons are over. Three Sisters Garden, located south of Chicago, starts its crop seasons and ends them earlier than many of the farm vendors farther north. You'll still be able to get these favorites at most markets for at least a few more weeks — just not from Three Sisters Garden.
Also important to note that Three Sisters Garden has lots of other beautiful produce to sell as it moves into the transitional season. As Tracey wrote in her newsletter:
"It has been a slow summer for us with peppers, but maybe they were just waiting out there for the best moment to roll on in.
To that end, Poblanos, limited amounts of Lesya pimentos, Tabascos, Chilacas, Hot Wax, Serranos, and what we are calling "Red Hot" Padrons have all joined the list alongside the poblanos and jalapeños that have been on for a week or two. Some are in limited supply, especially the Lesyas, but we will see how things go over the coming weeks.
And in a turnaround for me, we are offering limited amounts of Tomatillos de Milpa, literally tomatillos from the field. Smaller and denser than grocery store tomatillos, they are less aggressively acidic and with lovely flashes of deep purple, these tomatillos roast up beautifully, then making wonderful salsas and sauces."
Almost September. Still summer.
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