Sweet Corn Season Begins

Very Limited for Now, But a Sign That a Corn Deluge Will Start Soon

Photo by Bob Benenson

In my little local food-obsessed world, the first sighting of the annual sweet corn crop is a big event. Maybe in your world too. So I'm pleased to share that I found (and purchased) my first corn of the 2026 season from the nice folks at Los Rodriguez Farm (Eau Claire, Michigan) at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market.

It also is my only sighting so far. I segued on Saturday (July 11) to Green City Market and found none among the several vendors who yearly specialize in one of Chicagoland's favorite crops. (Did you know that sweet corn is officially Illinois' state vegetable?) But it's a signal that full-on corn season can't be far behind.

Photo by Bob Benenson

My preferred method for preparing corn is as follows:

• Strip off (and compost, if you will) the outer leaves of the husk, leaving just a thin layer.

• Place in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees.

• Roast for 30 minutes.

• Et voila!

Photo by Bob Benenson

A slightly alternative method is to completely remove the husk, wrap the corn ears in foil and roast for 30 minutes at 425 degrees.

I gave a tour of the markets to friends who were in visiting from Maine. It was good practice, because this coming Saturday — July 18 — I will be giving a tour of The Lincoln Park Farmers Market... and you can join in!

We're gathering at 9 a.m. Meet my colleagues at Naturally Chicago (the association for the natural products consumer packaged goods industry, for which I do contract work); Anupy Singla, entrepreneur and star of the public TV cooking show Indian as Apple Pie; and local city alderman Timmy Knudsen. Click the button below to register.

JOIN SATURDAY'S MARKET TOUR

You also will get to meet and chat with folks like these two extraordinary women:

Photo by Bob Benenson

On the left is market manager extraordinaire Elsa Jacobson, who signed on several years ago, rescued a market that was barely alive, and turned it back into a vibrant neighborhood market. On the right is LaShawn Miller of the Finding Justice Urban Farm in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood, which expands access to healthy produce for food insecure individuals and families.

Photo by Bob Benenson

I learned on Saturday that LaShawn has launched the Pergola Project, which will be a gathering place in the North Lawndale community — which will also become an orchard several years from now when their just-planted fruit trees start bearing fruit. Click the button to learn more and make a donation to the GoFundMe campaign.

HELP BUILD THE PERGOLA PROJECT

All this, and LaShawn also has a full-time job as policy organizer for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance!

Photo by Bob Benenson

My friends and I moved on to Green City Market, which provided quite a contrast to the laid-back atmosphere of The Lincoln Park Farmers Market. Green City is widely regarded as Chicago's flagship farmers market, and it is the destination market for thousands — a hub for serious local food lovers and for others who have made it a happening place to be.

Photo by Bob Benenson

Those green bell peppers in the photo above, at the stand of Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) made up the big 1st of season news at Green City.

Photo by Bob Benenson

And my haul (from left): Green City Market — hothouse heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, green and purple bell peppers from Nichols; lion's mane mushrooms from Thrive Mushrooms (Kankakee, Illinois); golden plums from Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan); and SunGold cherry tomatoes from Wholesome Harvest (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin). The Lincoln Park Farmers Market — OG Pickles from Pickled Prince (Chicago); bialy (on toaster) from Zeitlin's Delicatessen (Chicago); and four ears of that Los Rodriguez Farm corn. And a scrumptious blueberry streusel baked doughnut from Daly's Donuts, whose brick and mortar store is located directly across the street from The Lincoln Park Farmers Market.

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