Market Scene: Logan Square Farmers Market in Chicago

[Photographs by EatADuckIMust.com]

Summer has come and gone and fall is definitely here to stay. If the cooler weather isn't proof positive enough for you, you'll have to believe it based on the produce available at your local farmers' market. After having visited many of the smaller ones in Chicago, we finally made it to Logan Square farmers' market, one of the city's largest (after Green City Market in Lincoln Park). Here, pumpkins, squash, root vegetables, apples and pears were well in abundance which means pies, soups, roasted vegetables and more pies! Time to turn that oven on, folks!

It was also bring-your-parents-to-work day for us, and my parents had a ton of fun checking out all the different vendors and taste testing all the samples. We first stopped by Nichols Farms & Orchard and as always, they brought in their large selection of produce. However, we were mainly having fun with their decorated pumpkins as well as their large "warted" peanut pumpkins that we found pretty amusing. I am SO ready for Jared to make his famous pumpkin pie this year!

We picked up a small bunch of edible marigold flowers from Purple Leaf Farm, which stocked plenty of other herbs as well, for a fancypants dinner we're cooking later this week.

Have you ever seen a black radish? It was our first time when we stopped at Montalbano Farms, and it really intrigued us. Though black on the outside, it still has a fleshy white inside. FYI, if you were looking for fresh-off-the-farm fennel, you may be out of luck as they told us that this past weekend was their last bit of fennel that they could harvest. But never fear, we also discovered you can still get sweet peppers and tomatoes up until the first frost. Get your supply in and make some fresh pasta sauce to freeze for the winter months!

We sampled amazing honey from Chicago Honey Co-op and picked up a small jar of honey dijon for my parents (who were totally enamored with it).

It's rare that we leave a farmers' market without baked goods. We spied a super long line at Cook Au Vin. We figured if people are willing to line up for it, it must be good! Not only do they sell freshly baked french baguettes and croissants, they also make both sweet and savory crepes. Yum!

We can never say no to fresh apple cider samples at the Lyons Fruit Farm & Greenhous stand. And you can't walk away without picking up a half or full gallon of this delicious fall flavor. It was also the perfect time to start shopping for apples, pears and grapes. Slices of Honeycrisp apples with dulce de leche creme, or concord grape sorbet anyone? (Mmmhmm.)

And if you ever need to shop around for a CSA, you can can speak with several different CSA representatives at this market. Sign up to receive your CSA boxes for those harsh winter months when you don't want brave the freezing temperatures for produce!

In Season

Pumpkins Gourds Butternut Squash Apples Pears Radishes Turnips Beets End of season tomatoes

Logan Square Farmers Market

Located on Logan Blvd, east of Milwaukee Ave (map) Every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6 - October 31

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