Farmers markets in Chicago are having a moment — more growers, more baked goods, more reasons to get out of bed on a Saturday. This is your quick guide to making the most of them.
Peak season runs May through October. June strawberries and August corn are worth planning your Saturday around; winter markets still show up with squash, apples, root veg, honey and preserves.
Go hungry. Nearly every market worth its salt has food trucks or ready-to-eat stalls, and lunch at the market beats lunch anywhere else.
Beyond the fruit and veg, the regulars are local honey, farm eggs, cut flowers, sourdough and baked goods, preserves, and prepared-food stalls that make a strong case for skipping breakfast at home.
Buy what's in season and you'll eat better for less — strawberries in June are a different fruit than the clamshell ones in February.
Saturday morning is the main event at most markets — typically 8 or 9am to early afternoon. A lot of cities now run a smaller Wednesday or Thursday evening market too, which is great if weekends are chaos. The USDA runs a national farmers market directory with thousands of listings — worth checking if you want the full roster near you.
Market days and hours change with the season — the Dayfari app keeps track of what's actually on around Chicago this weekend, plus other local events worth the trip.