Farmers Market Finds

By Lisa Shames in Food on Jul 17, 2007 5:30PM

We don’t know about you, but Chicagoist always feels healthier just by walking around a farmers market. And that’s even before we get home and sample any of our beautiful bounty. That’s especially true at the Green City Market, which features products from local, small-scale, certified organic/sustainable vendors twice at week at the south end of Lincoln Park. Perhaps it’s the colorful array of produce, soothing live music, pristine flowers and giggling kids here that feed our inner Pollyanna and make us feel that, yes, things really are going to get better (the occasional sighting of a hunky local chef doesn’t hurt either). Heck, even the dogs are down with the program and get along.

That warm-and-fuzzy vibe gets even stronger when we stop by the Growing Home booth. Oh sure, we’re big fans of their organic spinach, herbs, collard greens and kale, but it’s the story behind the greens that we like even better. Since 2002 this non-profit agriculture business has been serving low-income and homeless people through its transitional employment program in the organic farming business with its two urban and one rural certified-organic farms. The participants not only learn all aspects of organic farming, but also take part in pre-employment workshops that focus on goal setting, money management, communication, self-esteem, resume preparation and interview techniques, and, in the process, give new meaning to the phrase “learning from the ground up.” Now that’s some powerful produce.

"Farmers Market Finds" is a new periodic feature on Chicagoist that will highlight specific vendors of the local farmers markets, their wares, and raise awareness of the concept of buying and eating local, sustainable produce and foodstuffs. If you have suggestions or vendor recommendations for Chicagoist, feel free to e-mail us.