Here in Chicago, the farmer's market season is only a few weeks old. My small northside farmer's market doesn't yet have a wide variety of veggies (but lots of strawberries and cherries). But I'm not despairing. The season is young. If you're wondering when to expect what veggies this season and live in Illinois, wonder no more with these official and unofficial Illinois lists. Here are some additional lists for my friends in California, Washington, New York , and Massachusetts – and for my mother in New Hampshire. If anyone else has some good seasonality lists, feel free to share.
If you're also wondering what it's like to be a farmer's market farmer, I recommend reading It's a Long Road to a Tomato: Tales of an Organic Farmer Who Quit the Big City for the (Not So) Simple Life by Keith Stewart. I was initially drawn to the book by its premise of a middle-aged man quitting his NYC job to become a Hudson Valley organic veggie farmer. I love all tales of mid-life career changes, especially those involving food. What the book ends up being is a very balanced, thoughtful, and well-written depiction of what your farmer's market farmers go through to bring their tasty veggies to a market near you.
If you're also wondering what it's like to be a farmer's market farmer, I recommend reading It's a Long Road to a Tomato: Tales of an Organic Farmer Who Quit the Big City for the (Not So) Simple Life by Keith Stewart. I was initially drawn to the book by its premise of a middle-aged man quitting his NYC job to become a Hudson Valley organic veggie farmer. I love all tales of mid-life career changes, especially those involving food. What the book ends up being is a very balanced, thoughtful, and well-written depiction of what your farmer's market farmers go through to bring their tasty veggies to a market near you.
