Chicago is a great town for farmer's markets.No matter what neighborhood you live if it's summer there is an open air market somewhere near you with local farmers looking to sell their wares at competitive prices.
On Tuesdays beginning in June there is one such market on the north side, the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market.
Just yesterday when I went I got four round tomatoes for a dollar. Not only was the price right, but with locally produced tomatoes the chance of salmonella is practically zero.
Zucchini and white potatoes were going for about a dollar a pound as well. Strawberries are a little pricier at about four to five dollars a pint, but the offerings aren't just fruits and vegetables.
The markets offer fresh baked pies and quick breads, locally made soaps, flowers and herbs (both fresh cut and potted), even meat.
C & D Family Farms is from Knox, IN and they offer all natural farm raised free range pork. If you go to their booth in Lincoln Square on Tuesdays you'll most likely meet Crystal, the C in C & D Family Farms.
The pork comes vacuum packed and frozen, something to consider if you were going to pick up some pork chops for dinner that night.
Crystal offered some tips on how best to defrost the meat. If you know ahead of time, give the meat a day to thaw in the refrigerator. If it's a last minute choice, Crystal recommends you run the packaged frozen meat under hot water to thaw it quickly.
Her selection is diverse, from the usual offerings of thick cut bacon, a selection of encased meats, pork chops and roasts to the more unusual, hocks (both smoked and fresh) and organs (heart, liver and tongue).
For 20 dollars I bought four bone in chops, six hot Italian sausages and a little over a pound of bacon.
The market officially closes at 2 p.m., but my advice would be to get there earlier in the day. When I went at around noon yesterday most of the booths were pretty picked over and some were close to sold out.
Also, be flexible. For example I needed a pound each of summer squash and zucchini for a recipe I was making. Though the zucchini selection was good, it may be too early for a decent summer squash crop. I ended up going with two pounds of zucchini instead and had no problem making my dish, but some recipes don't have such simple substitutions.
My advice, come with a back up menu plan if the items you need are either unavailable or unappetizing.
Lincoln Square Farmer's Market
When: Tuesdays, June 10-October 28, 2008
7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Lincoln/Leland/Western (4700 N - 2400 W)
City Parking Lot adjacent to the Western Brown Line Station
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