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Four Miles from Its Flagship Outdoor Location, Drawing Big and Friendly Crowds
It took a little more work for me to get to the season opening of Chicago's Green City indoor farmers market on Saturday (December 7) than it did for me to get to its flagship outdoor market that ran from April through November.
The indoor market in the Avondale community is twice as far from our apartment than the outdoor market in Lincoln Park. It's a bit of a schlep, requiring a good deal of walking and a crosstown bus ride, and the very chilly morning made the parka a must.
I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Of course, the main reason for going to a farmers market is to get my fix of super-fresh, delicious, locally and sustainably produced food. But it's also the experience that keeps bringing me (and most of the other folks crowding the aisles on Saturday) back over and over.
There's the general festival (or country fair) atmosphere that makes it a cheery shopping excursion. I've haunted local farmers market since shortly after Barb and I moved to Chicago from Washington, D.C. in 2011. Most of those visits have been to Green City, initially because it was the closest farmers market to where we live in Lakeview, but also because of the friendships I've developed over the years with market staff and Board members, farmer/vendors, and fellow shoppers.
Kristina Navarro, on the right, is manager for Green City's Edible Education program, which includes its Club Sprouts presentations for children. She was joined on Saturday by Chris Perez, market programs manager for Farmer Support.
Samantha DeMichael sells gourmet treats at her Flock & Forage stand.
So what will you find at a Chicago indoor winter market?
Among other items, there are lots of late autumn and early winter greens, like these at the stand of Jacobson Family Farms (Antioch, Illinois)...
... and Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois).
It was great to see that Nichols is having success at producing delicious indoor-grown tomatoes into the year's final month (I am a big fan of "season extension"). These cherry tomatoes shared a table with ginger root and jars of popcorn.
It should come as no surprise that winter squash — such as these at the stand of Tomato Mountain (Brooklyn, Wisconsin) — is in high supply in both familiar and less familiar varieites. Tetsukabuto squash, anybody?
Of course, the mushrooms at the River Valley Ranch (Burlington, Wisconsin) stand know no seasons.
By now, I'm sure you're anxious to know what I brought home from the market. There are chicken leq quarters and eggs from Finn's Ranch (Buchanan, Michigan); cabbage, onions and cherry tomatoes from Nichols; Brussels sprouts and garlic from Kajers Greens (North Judson, Indiana); white mushrooms from River Valley Ranch; carrots from Tomato Mountain; and apple cider and cranberries purchased from Ellis Family Farms (Benton Harbor, Michigan).
The Green City indoor market will be open the next two Saturdays (December 14 and 21), then will return after a holiday break. The market will then be open every Saturday from January 11 through March 22. Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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