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When Early-Season Crops Arrive in Market is Always a Guessing Game
- Bob Benenson
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
Chicago Region's Variable Weather Conditions Make Every Season Different
The April 4 kickoff to the Chicago region's outdoor farmers market season was soggy. But local food lovers only had to wait only one week for the first bright, sunshiny (albeit chilly) market morning that we enjoyed on Saturday (April 11).
I was part of the parade of people visiting Green City Market's Lincoln Park flagship location on Saturday. A pillar of Chicago's local food community since its founding in 1999, Green City has never wanted for customers. But it has been booming since the COVID pandemic prompted rising interest in locally produced food, and as these photos illustrate, there has been no reversal since.
We are in the early days of this region's outdoor growing season, so selections of new crops are still limited. The photo above shows ramps, radishes, carrots and lettuce at the stand of Kajers Greens (North Judson, Indiana).
Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois) had these pretty red cabbages.
But Chicago's spring weather patterns can vary greatly from year to year (and even day to day, as the recent wide temperature swings indicate). So even farmers can only guess about when the next crops will arrive (or leave) the markets.
This week's adventure is a string of predicted well-above-average temperatures, with highs well into the 70s on several days. Does this mean a short season for cool-weather-loving ramps? Does this mean asparagus — the first major mass-consumed crop in the region, with most coming from Michigan, the number-1 asparagus-producing state — will make an early appearance?
I plan to be out again next weekend and will let you know. But the best way to find out is to visit one of the region's early markets. Local Food Forum's Farmers Market Tracker, with dates and locations of the earliest outdoor markets and the remaining indoor markets, follows my April 11 market haul.
From left, there are cremini mushrooms from River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin); French breakfast radishes from Jacobson Family Farms (Antioch, Illinois); ramps from Kajers Greens; apple cider from last year's crop at Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan); and carrots and onions from Nichols.
I hit all four states in Chicago's Lake Michigan region foodshed. Local food bingo!
Markets for the Week of April 13-19 (Outdoor Farmers Markets in black and Remaining Indoor Markets in blue)
*means season opener
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
St. Charles Indoor Farmers/Baked Goods Market, Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar, St. Charles
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Chicago Nettlehorst French Market, 3252 N. Broadway, Chicago *
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 201 Center St., Grayslake
10 a.m to 2 p.m.
Green City Lincoln Park, 1817 N. Clark St., Chicago
7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wheaton French Market, Main and Liberty, Wheaton
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wilmette French Market, 722 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette *
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Batavia Farmers Market, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 S. Shumway Avenue
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., through May 9
Evanston Winter Farmers Market, Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
8 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Palatine Winter Farmers Market, 137 W. Wood St., Palatine
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ravinia Winter Farmers Market (Saturday), Wayfarer Theater, 1850 Second St., Highland Park
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wheaton Indoor Market, Wheaton Mason’s Lodge, 120 W. Wesley
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
Geneva French Market, Metra parking lot (4th and South), Geneva
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cary Winter Farmers Market, 3702 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Farmers Market at the Dole, 401 Country Club Rd.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FOLLOWING WEEK'S OPENINGS
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market (Chicago)
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
Frankfort Country Market (Frankfort)
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