It's almost farmers market and pick-your-own time in Chicago!
We love supporting our local farmers and buying locally-grown produce and goods. Plus, it's fun for the whole family to visit a pick-your-own (PYO) farm or a farmers market.
Here are four things to note before heading out to farmers markets or PYO farms in the Chicagoland area:
- Pick-your-own farms can sometimes change hours on short notice dependent on weather, produce availability, and other factors. It's best to call ahead to make sure pick-your-own is available that day. Prices can also change from day to day.
- Bring your own containers or bags to avoid any extra charges!
- Bring cash as some farmer market stands and pick-your-own farms don't take credit cards.
- Some farmer markets and pick-your-own farms in might have rules or requests in place due to COVID. Please check their websites or social media sites before heading out!
Here are the details on some of the top Chicago farmers markets and pick-your-own farms:
Farmers Markets in Chicago(north of the Chicago River) |
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Farmers markets in Chicago typically open for the season in May or June. Here are Farmers Markets around the city.
Andersonville Farmers Market
When: Opens May 12. Wednesdays 3pm-7pm through October 20.
Where: Catalpa Ave. between Clark and Ashland
What: The Andersonville Farmers Market will continue to operate as a hybrid market in 2021. Shoppers can purchase directly from vendors every Wednesday from 3-7PM, or pre-order from our online marketplace (coming soon). Entry between 3-3:30PM will be reserved for those who are over 60 or at increased risk for COVID-19.
The online market will open every Thursday at noon, with on site pre-order pickup from 3-7PM the following Wednesday. If you’re at risk and/or over 60 you can come to the market between 3-3:30PM to pick up your orders and/or shop (no time slot reservation is needed before 3:30PM for at risk population).
Link shoppers can email market@andersonville.org to register to use their SNAP benefits to pre-order online. Please include your name, email and zip code in your email. Vendors will also be accepting Link tokens for on site purchase
If shopping on site we encourage you to make a shopping list in advance, and to use credit/debit cards or Venmo to pay vendors. This helps everyone move more quickly through the market and gives more market patrons the chance to shop.
More information: https://andersonvillemarket.org/
Chicago Lights Urban Farm
When: Fridays 1pm-5pm now through October.
What: We cultivate an engaged community through educational and employment opportunities and access to fresh, local, and sustainably grown produce.
Where: 444 W. Chicago Ave.
More information: https://chicagolights.org/urban-farm/
Edgewater Farmers Market
When: TBD
More information: https://www.edgewater.org/programs/farmers-market/
Glenwood Sunday Market
When: Opens June 6. Sundays 9am-2pm through October 24. Closed Sunday July 4
Where: 1233-41 W. Pratt Blvd
More information: https://www.glenwoodsundaymarket.org/
Green City Market Lincoln Park
When: Opens May 1. Wednesdays & Saturdays 7am-1pm through October. Rain or shine.
Where: approximately 1817 N Clark St
More information: https://www.greencitymarket.org/markets/LincolnPark.asp
Green City Market West Loop
When: Opens June 5. Saturdays 8am-1pm through October. Rain or shine.
Where: 115 S. Sangamon St
More information: https://www.greencitymarket.org/markets/WestLoop.asp
Green City Market Delivered
When:
- WEDNESDAYS: To receive your delivery (11 am-7 pm) or schedule curbside pick-up (4 pm-6 pm) on a Wednesday, the order window opens the previous Friday at 8 am CST. The order window closes at 11:59 pm on Mondays.
- SATURDAYS: To receive your delivery (11 am-7 pm) or schedule curbside pick-up (12 pm-2 pm) on a Saturday, the order window opens the previous Monday at 8 am CST. The order window closes at 11:59 pm on Thursdays.
What: With convenient, contact-free curbside pick-up and home delivery, GCM Delivered is bringing the farmers market to you.
Where: WhatsGood app
More information: https://www.greencitymarket.org/GCMDelivered/index.asp
Horner Park Farmers Market
When: Opens June 5. Saturdays 9am-1pm through October 2.
Where: 2741 W. Montrose Ave
More information: https://hornerpark.org/farmers-market/
Lincoln Square Farmers Market
When: Tuesdays 7am-1pm May through November, Thursdays 3pm-7pm May through October. Rain or shine.
Where: The Market is held in the municipal parking lot and Plaza at North Lincoln and West Leland Avenues. This is the lot adjacent to the Western Brown Line stop.
More information: http://www.lincolnsquare.org/farmers-market
Logan Square Farmers Market
When: Opens May 9. Sundays 9am-3pm through October.
Where: 3107 W. Logan Blvd
More information: https://www.logansquarefarmersmarket.org/about
Low-Line Market at Southport
When: Opens June 3. Thursdays 3:30pm-7:30pm through October.
Where: 3410 N Southport Ave
More information: https://www.lakeviewroscoevillage.org/community-events/low-line-market
Nettlehorst French Market
When: Opened April 17. Saturdays 8am-2pm through October.
Where: 3252 N. Broadway
More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1090148581395718/
Northcenter Farmers Market
When: Saturdays 7am-1pm June through October.
Where: 4100 N. Damen
More information: https://www.northcenterchamber.com/northcenter-farmers-market
Ravenswood Farmers Market
When: Wednesdays 4pm-8pm June through October.
Where: 4900 N Damen Avenue.
More information: https://ravenswoodchicago.org/signature-events/farmers-market/
Roscoe Village Farmers Market
When: Opens June 13. Sundays 9:30am-2pm through October 17.
Where: 3149 N. Wolcott
More information: sierra@lrvcc.org
SOAR (Streeterville Organization of Active Residents) Farmers Market
When: Opens June 1. Tuesdays 7am-2pm through October.
What: With convenient, contact-free curbside pick-up and home delivery, GCM Delivered is bringing the farmers market to you.
Where: 244 East Pearson St
More information: https://soarchicago.org/soarfarmersmarket/
Uptown Farmers Market
When: Opens May. Wednesdays 11:45am-7:45pm through November.
Where:Wilson & Broadway
Wicker Park Farmers Market
When: Pop-up Market at the Joinery. Saturday, April 24th from 9am-1pm. 2021 Outdoor Season will begin mid-May. Stay tuned.
Where: 2533 W. Homer St.
More information: http://www.wickerparkbucktown.com/farmersmarket/welcome-to-the-wicker-park-farmers-market/
Pick-Your-Own Farms in Chicagoland |
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Pick-your-own farms in the Chicagoland area are fun for both kids and adults! PYO is a great family afternoon outing and many farms include extra activities like train rides, tractor rides, inflatables, etc. Here are some farms that offer PYO worth the trip:
Billy Boy's Blueberry Farm
What: Seven varieties of blueberries
When: Summer
Where: 650 Freyer Road Michigan City, IN (minutes away from New Buffalo, MI, the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet Mall and the Indiana Dunes)
More information: http://www.billyboysblueberrybarn.com/
The Blueberry Ranch
What: Organic blueberries
When: Our U-Pick season typically begins in July and goes through mid-August
Where: 54743 Buckeye Road, Mishawaka, IN
More information: http://www.blueberryranch.com/upick-blueberries
Johnson's Farm Produce
What: Strawberries in June, Blueberries in late June through July, Raspberries in August
When: On average, we begin picking blueberries around mid-July and pick for 3 or 4 weeks.
Where: 37131 Essex Road, Wilmington, IL
More information: https://johnsonsfarmproduce.com/
Kings Hill Farm
What: Farm Share - A Farm Share is the perfect way for your family to receive high-quality, nutritious food every week from a local, organic farm. Every week, you’ll be able to choose seasonally-available vegetables that are harvested at peak freshness and packaged specifically with your family in mind.
When: Before the start of the season, you’ll purchase a membership in the Farm Share program. From May 27 to October 28, you’ll log into our customization tool where you select the vegetables you want to feed your family in the upcoming week. They will harvest and pack the vegetables the day before they are delivered to you.
Where: In Chicago-land, home delivery is offered to residents of Lake View and Wicker Park/Logan Square on Thursdays, beginning May 27.
More information: https://kingshillfarm.com/farm-shares
Stades Farm and Market
What: Strawberries begin mid-June. Also available over the summer: Raspberries, Tomatoes, Peppers, Green Beans, Snap Peas, and Sunflowers
Where: 3709 Miller Road McHenry, Illinois
More information: https://stadesfarmandmarket.com/pick-your-own/
Stateline Blueberries
What: Blueberries
When: late June/early July
Where: 9957 N. Frontage Rd. Michigan City, IN
More information: https://www.statelineblueberries.com/
Tammen Treeberry Farm
What: Blueberries
When: On average, we begin picking blueberries around mid-July and pick for 3 or 4 weeks.
Where: 37131 Essex Road, Wilmington, IL
More information: http://www.tammentreeberryfarm.net/btammen/?page_id=24
Thompson Strawberry Farm
What: Strawberries Mid June- early July, Sunflowers July- early October
Where: 14000 75th Street Bristol, WI
More information: https://www.thompsonstrawberryfarm.com/
Willowthorne
What: Blueberries/honey
When: Open to the general public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-4pm through the first three weeks of July.
Where: 2701 Glenwood Dyer Road, Lynwood, IL (only 35 minutes from downtown Chicago)
More information: http://www.willowthorne.com/home.html
Do you have a favorite spot to take your family for pick-your-own in the Chicagoland area that you don't see listed here? Let me know at debraf@macaronikid.com and we'll add it to our list!
