Celebrating 20 Years of Green City Market – Kicking Off the Outdoor Farmers Market Season!

Green City Market Outdoor Market Opens May 4th, 2019 in Lincoln Park
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Chicago’s top source for fresh, local fruits, veggies, and prepared foods

Green City Market’s (GCM) outdoor market opening dates are fast approaching, and this year we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary. Green City Market is one of the top markets in the Midwest and has been recognized as a leading market by consumers, farmers, and chefs alike. We’ll have cake, chef demonstrations, music, kids’ activities and of course the season’s freshest produce, amazing local meats, cheeses, eggs and so much more.

Spring Flowers

Throughout the year, Green City Market showcases sustainable practices and is proud to be the first farmers markets in the country to require all of its farmers to be certified by a nationally recognized 3rd party agency. Farmers at Green City Market prioritize the health and wellbeing of their farmland, animals, and customers.

Market days provide abundant opportunities for Chicagoans of all ages to learn about food, the environment, nutrition and more. Club Sprouts lets kids taste new foods and learn how they are grown. Renowned Chicago chefs give cooking demos that feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. Yoga classes, composting drop-offs, and the interactive Edible Gardens all give Chicagoans an opportunity to appreciate fresh foods and learn more about sustainability and how food gets to their plate.

Growing Home

Green City Market Opening Dates

Lincoln Park

Opening Day:                                        Saturday, May 4 – October 26, 2019

Dates of operation:                                  Saturdays & Wednesdays, from May-October

Times:                                                      7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location:                                                  1817 N. Clark Street — South end of Lincoln Park –

 N. Clark St. & N. Lincoln Ave.

Green City Market opens May 4th

Special activities:

9:00 am                                       Ribbon Cutting – Civic and City Officials and Green City Market Staff and Board Members

10:00 am                                   Cutting of 20th Anniversary Cake by Bennison’s Bakery

Throughout The Day                  Series of Cooking demos by Renowned Chicago chefs

Rhubarb and more

                                                   The Chef is In Tent –  Ask our chef-in-residence for culinary advice or recipe inspiration!

                                     Music by The Winchesters

                                     Club Sprouts – Making Biodegradable Plant Starts         

                                                  Compost Education with Healthy Soil Compost

West Loop

Opening Day:                          Saturday, June 1, 2019

Dates of operation:                  Saturdays, from June-October

Times:                                      8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location:                                  Bartleme Park, 115 S. Sangamon St., Chicago

The History

Twenty years ago, after visiting European sustainable farmers markets in 1998, Green City Market founder Abby Mandel, chef, author, and entrepreneur, returned to Chicago determined to create a similar market in her own city.

Green City Market was her brainchild and began as a small startup with nine local farmers in the alley next to the Chicago Theatre. The Market quickly outgrew the location and moved to the south end of Lincoln Park where it currently operates May – October. In 2008, the Green City Market became year-round, remaining open November-April, first in the Lincoln Park Zoo and now in The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. 

Twenty years later, the message has come through loud and clear: Chicago wants and needs a year-round farmers market and, most importantly, one that supports local farmers and sustainable agricultural practices. The Market continues to experience crowds of over 175,000 visitors per year. From that first year in 1999 next to the Chicago Theatre to the present time, Green City Market has morphed into Chicago’s most vital farmers market. 

Asparagus

About Green City Market

Green City Market is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit paving a new path for the local food economy in the midwest by deepening our support of small family farms, educating consumers and the next generation of eaters, and increasing access to local, sustainable food. Green City Market operates three sustainable market locations throughout Chicago. Beyond the market, Green City Market leads Edible Education classes in schools and partners with community organizations to promote equitable access to nutritious, local food.  More information, Follow our news on Twitter at @GreenCityMarket, on Facebook at facebook.com/greencitymarket, on Instagram at @greencitymarket

Photo Credit Erika Vernon photography.


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