'Tis the season to go outdoors for a fix of local produce, meats, cheeses, and so much more. We know (and appreciate) that many of you take advantage of our home delivery of fresh, organic veggies because your schedule doesn't permit a regular trek to a market, while some of you simply use the CSA as a jumping off point for your week's meals and use your favorite market to augment what you receive from us. (To that end, our Sneak Peeks will usually be timed to hit you on Friday night so you can
 |
|
Sean at Green City
|
plan shopping if you frequent one of the many great weekend farmers' markets. Suffice it to say that "stuff" happens so this one is later than desired.)
Tomato Mountain is scaling back the number of markets we'll be participating in this year--down from a high of 30 markets per week a few years ago--to a few tried and true markets and a few sentimental favorites. Two of them--Green City Market and 61st Street--are already underway, and next week will see the season openers for Oak Park and Logan Square. By mid-June, the
full schedule will be in play. I've turned over coordination of our farmers market presence to Sean and he may be adding a few more to that list, so check back. We sometimes add a one-off market (like this afternoon's pop-up market at the
Empty Bottle) or monthly appearance; our event calendar is the best place to go to see where to find us on a week to week basis.
Our kitchen products in jars take center stage at all of our markets (with plenty of sampling going on), but we bring fresh produce when we can--particularly to Green City. What we have available depends entirely on what is available after we've packed our CSA boxes, so always know that you are receiving the best we have to offer.
But whether we're there or not, we hope you'll find your local market and support the farmers, producers, artisans, organizers, and other vendors there. Our friends at
The Local Beet have perhaps the most comprehensive list of markets in Chicagoland and beyond. Having organized markets myself, I know how much work goes into it, and they only work if people turn out.
