Chicago Farmers Market Etiquette Guide

When I was a teenager, I would wake up to sleep on a Saturday to find that my father had already returned from his weekly trip to the farmers’ market with a bouquet of flowers and lots of vegetables for my mother.

Why would anyone want to waste their precious weekend time walking around outside in the sun shopping for vegetables? You can run to the jewel without sacrificing your sleep. What is sold at the market is not cooked.

But as I grew older, I realized that I was turning into an old man. I celebrate the beginning of the market season and mourn its end as a harbinger of winter’s arrival. Maybe that makes up for my overall lack of enthusiasm for a lackluster Chicago sports season. It’s great to have something to look forward to. Like team owners seeking tax benefits, farmers won’t let you down.

This new farmers market looks different than the ones my father visited. Chefs and food entrepreneurs use markets to build their brands. There are long lines for grilled cheese, melty raclette sandwiches, and coffee.

Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

Farmers’ markets are essential to urban areas, giving city dwellers easier access to fresh produce, but this is not consistent across cities. This has implications for healthcare. Hospitals want healthier patients. Even if a patient’s length of stay is short, you can benefit from freeing up beds for new customers. Long-term stays are not that profitable. Many hospitals welcome farmers in hopes of establishing healthier habits in their patient populations. The market is also a haven for people with dogs and small children, and freshly finished, energetic visitors in athleisure must avoid leashes and bulky strollers to survive.

With all of this in mind, we’ve put together a list of tips for farmers market visitors. Some of them are very irritating. Some of it comes from conversations with chefs and vendors. Please enjoy.

Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

1. Arrive early by 7 a.m. to get your hands on specialty items. Dad was thinking about something. The fewer people there are, the easier it is to navigate the market. It’s a huge time saver. If you wake up earlier than someone who wakes up early for a workout, not only will you feel better than them, but you’ll also be able to get your product before it sells out. Chef Sarah Stegner says: “If you see something, buy it now…you might run out later, it’ll be sold out!”
2. Stegner, the chef at Prairie Grass Cafe in suburban Northbrook, is a founding member of Green City.she was recently profiled Cranes. Her advice? Try talking to farmers. Ask what’s in season and when the items you’re selling were harvested. She mentioned her recent conversation about multicolored eggs. She learned that colors indicate different breeds, and that grass-fed chickens have darker yellow yolks (Stegner feels darker yolks taste better). It’s a conversation that informs the consumer,” says Stegner.
3. On a lighter note, keep moving. Most farmers markets are held within parks. If you’re using your cell phone, have a dog with you, or are blocking the sidewalk with a stroller, move. Please be considerate. There is usually grassy ground there where you can have an impromptu conversation without getting in the way.
4. As a father of a toddler, I’m interested in stroller etiquette. There are entitled parents who feel they are invincible and have the right to mow down anyone who gets in their way. And then there are the parents who are in a hurry and are literally trying to weave their way through the crowd after you. If you’re in a hurry, it’s better to get to the market early instead of pushing yourself like a toddler.
5. That being said, those without children should respect strollers. “Excuse me” is much more effective than pretending to slump your shoulders to get a table at a crowded dive bar. This is not a children’s area. Children have more rights to be in the park than adults. That’s how society works, friends.
6. If you can, bike to the farmers market on a nice day. And it will be easier to find a parking space. Investing in bicycle panniers is a wise choice.
7. For those who drive, finding a parking spot is not easy. At Green City Market Lincoln Park, you can purchase 2 hours of parking at the Chicago Museum of History. $14 with validation card available at all market entrances. Real hacking? Purchase and validate your admission to the museum and spend the day learning something new indoors.
8. Chef Rick Bayless suggests thinking of the market as an art fair. Try to ask friendly questions. Instead of asking, “How do you cook this?” ask Bayless, “Do you have a favorite way to make this?” or “Is there something you’re really excited to prepare this week?” He suggests. Taking the time to build relationships pays off. Last summer, Bayless said she asked Patrick Mark of Iron Creek Farm what he was excited about. “He picked up a type of tomato and said, ‘Here, raw, salt and pepper.'” There’s so much to learn there! He told me that the breed will never be better than it is at that moment. Let’s be grateful for what nature has given us. ”
9. The demand for prepared foods is increasing year by year. Soul & Smoke, a member of Eater Chicago 38, parked his barbecue truck in Logan Square. Husband-and-wife team Heather Bublik and D’Andre Carter reiterated some of their previous tips (they encourage you to come hungry). But they also encourage you to become a regular. Yields vary throughout the season. It’s really amazing to see the transition from spring to summer to late summer to fall. ”

10. Eden, which operates the Avondale restaurant on the banks of the Chicago River, will be the newest addition to Green City in 2024. Chef Devon Quinn, who has a garden outside the restaurant, is chief culinary officer of operations for Eden and Paramount Events. He suggests people bring their own crates, reusable bags and baskets. He also tells farmers to ask about “seconds,” or ugly fruits and vegetables. “It’s great for salsas, fillings, and purees,” he says. He also advises customers not to insult farmers or try to barter with them, saying: “If you want a discount on produce, go to Aldi’s.” “Growing methods and labor are expensive. You’re paying for healthy food and supporting the local economy.”

11. Bonus: Don’t become this man.