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South Loop Farmers Market Says See You In November
Popular Outdoor Market on Chicago's Printers Row Extends to November 21
The farmers market news has been a little gloomy of late, with most of the Chicago region markets wrapping up their 2026 outdoor seasons. So I'm happy to report some good news: The popular South Loop Farmers Market on Chicago's Printers Row has extended its season for three weeks.
The Saturday market, originally scheduled to call it a year with their market this coming Saturday — October 31 — will instead be open through November 21. That means its fans will be able to buy delicious locally produced food there for their Thanksgiving feasts.
I learned about the extension yesterday (October 24) when I met out-of-town friends there. Because of my crazy schedule, it was the first time I'd made it down to the market this year, which is too bad because I'm really fond of it.
South Loop Farmers Market does lean a little heavier toward prepared foods than most markets. But the fresh food vendors — including Los Rodriguez Farm (Eau Claire, Michigan) and Bennett Farms, a meat producer that raises livestock regeneratively in Edwardsburg, Michigan — are top quality.
I was also a man on a mission — to meet Sunny, who with his wife Reshma owns Fook Hing Hot Chili Oil.
I've known about the company for a few years and even published a photo of their sign because Fook Hing is such an, um, creative name for a chili oil company. (Say it out loud if you didn't immediately get it.)
But Reshma recently reached out to me after she had a conversation with my friend Greg Keller, who is a colleague and brands lead at Naturally Chicago. She informed me that she and Sunny make a point of sourcing ingredients from local farmers, which is a "you had me at hello" kind of thing.
All of the chili oil varieties I sampled were tasty, and they are flavor-first rather than set-your-hair-on-fire spicy. So will I be scheduling an interview with the couple for a story in Local Food Forum?
Fook yeah!
My modest market haul: ham slices and bratwurst from Bennett Farms, raspberries and pears from Los Rodriguez Farm, and Hook's 3-year-old Wisconsin cheddar cheese from Stamper Cheese (Chicago).
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