Travelers make pit stops for sweet corn along the road for a reason: The foreign allure of the fresh-from-the-vine fruits and vegetables. Luckily, your urban veggie experience isn't restricted to chain shopping, and it certainly doesn't require a car (just a backpack or strong biceps). Chicago offers a bevy of long-standing markets that bring the best of the farm to your neighborhood.
Expect a solid dose of Americana—rhubarb, basil, flowers and homemade breads—and expect to pay a bit more. You won't see 99-cent containers of strawberries, but you won't see rotting, pale red berries either. You'll want to get up with the roosters, too. Most markets open at 7 a.m. and call it quits by mid-afternoon. Though a complete roster of Chicago farmers markets follows, here are our favorite weekend ones...because we work, too:
Check out the big mamma-jamma at Green City Market
Truly a family of local producers, farmers, restaurateurs and chefs, Green City Market is open on Saturdays, too (hallelujah). Past producers include Red Hen Bakery, Herbally Yours and Nichols Farm & Orchard, which always boasts a staggering number of strawberry varieties. You'll also find herbs, heirloom tomatoes, organic free-range chicken, gourmet vinegars and a mean crepes stand that uses fillings gleaned from neighboring booths. Learn how to prepare your food with the 10:30 a.m. cooking demo; famed chefs include Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and Gale Gand of Tru. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday; May 6-Oct. 31.
Get veggies on the North Side at Edgewater Green Market
There's no need to trek downtown for organic produce. This weekly farmers' market is stocked with fruits and veggies, compliments of Kings Hill Farm Cooperative and True Nature Foods. You'll also find jams, flowers, honey and breads from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In the past, Soul Cafe has sold fair-trade coffee to help rouse early risers, while Soothe Your Senses presented bath salts, eye tea and massage oil to wind down your day with. Additional specialty vendors participate on the third Saturday of each month. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; June 20-Oct. 31.
Brunch at Lula, then shop at Logan Square Farmers' Market
What started as a bi-weekly market in 2005 has already jumped to a weekly one, and it's a farm-centric gathering worth supporting. Held at the intersection of Logan & Milwaukee, this is an easy market for Wicker Park/Bucktown residents to get to. Once there you'll find produce from City Farm, organic bread and pastries from Golden Rise Bakery, flowers from D&K Farms and M's Organic vegetables, flowers, canned goods and soaps. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; June 7-Oct. 25.
Shop like Frank would at Oak Park Farmers' Market
What better time than summer to take a jaunt to the Frank Lloyd Wright-heavy village of Oak Park? And what better way to return than laden with fresh veggies? Offering locally grown produce in a setting that heralds back to those early Arts & Crafts days, the "gastronomic event" comes complete with bluegrass tunes, the scent of freshly-made old-fashioned cake donuts, produce, traditional and unusual flowers and plants, artisanal cheeses, honey, vinegars, herbs and more. A bag check area lets you temporarily set down your load while you enjoy other local goodies. 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; May 23-October 31.
Take a weekend drive to Northfield Farmers' Market
Rainy Saturday got you down? Hop in the car and take a trip to Northfield, where you'll reap vitamin-filled rewards thanks to the town's rain-or-shine farmers market. In addition to seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables, you'll find Wisconsin cheeses, maple syrup, honey, just-from-the-oven breads, herbal soaps and fresh cut flowers. 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturday; June 6-Oct. 24.
Don't miss these other weekly markets, which take over pockets of the city from the heart of downtown to the edge of Rogers Park:
Tuesdays
Federal Plaza, at Adams and Dearborn
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; May 12-Oct. 27
Lincoln Square, at Lincoln, Leland and Western
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 9-Oct. 27
Lombard, at St. Charles and Elizabeth
8 a.m.-1 p.m.; May 12-Oct. 13
Museum of Contemporary Art, at Chicago and Mies van der Rohe Way
9 a.m.-4 p.m.; June 9-Oct. 27
Prudential Plaza, at Lake and Beaubien Court
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 9-Oct. 27
South Chicago, at 83rd and Marquette
9 a.m.-4 p.m.; July 7-Oct. 27
Wednesdays
Chatham, 87th and Langley
9 a.m.-2 p.m.; July 15-Sep. 30
Gately/Pullman, at 111th and Cottage Grove
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 10-Oct. 28
Lawndale, at Central Park and Homan
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; July 8-Oct. 14
ShoreBank, at 7054 S. Jeffery
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 10-Oct. 28
South Shore, at 70th and Jeffery
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 0-Oct. 28
Thursdays
Daley Plaza, at Washington & Dearborn
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; May 14-Oct. 15
Dunning-Eli's/Wright College, at Montrose and Forest Preserve Avenue
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 8-Oct. 29
Englewood, at 63rd and Halsted
8 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 29
Hyde Park, at 3424 Edwards
8 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 14-Oct. 29
Sears Tower, at 233 S. Wacker
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 18-Oct. 29
Smart Home, at Museum of Science and Industry
8 a.m.-3 p.m.; June 5-Oct. 16 (first and third Fridays)
The Park at Jackson and Wacker
7 a.m.-3 p.m.; June-Oct.
Saturdays
Austin, at Madison & Central
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; July 11-Oct. 24
Conuco, at 2626 W. Division
9 a.m.-1 p.m.; June-Oct.
Evanston, at University and Oak
7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; May 16-Nov. 7
Lincoln Park, at Armitage and Orchard
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 16-Oct. 31
Morgan Park, at 92nd and Ashland
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June-Oct.
Near North, at Division and Dearborn
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June-Oct.
North Center, at Damen and Lincoln
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June-Oct.
Printer's Row, at Dearborn and Polk
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 13-Oct. 31
Southport Green Market, at Grace and Southport
8 a.m.-noon; June 13-Oct. 10
Sundays
Ashburn, at 87th & Kedzie
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 28-Oct. 18
Beverly, at 95th and Longwood
7 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 17-Oct. 25
Bronzeville, at E. 44th and Cottage Grove
8 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 6-Oct. 31
Portage Park at 4100 N. Long
10 a.m.-2 p.m.; June 21-Oct. 24 (first and third Sundays)
Starr Park Sunday Market at Washington and Oakley
8 a.m.-2 p.m.; July 5-Oct. 31
Wicker Park/Bucktown, at Wicker Park along Damen
7 a.m.-2 p.m., June 7-Oct. 25
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