Start your holiday weekend off right with a little (or a lot) shopping at the 61st Street Farmers Market. There are many fresh local foods to make your weekend plans complete.

• Mike & Clare’s Farm: If you like to grow your own food, Mike and Clare can help. Stop by and check out their organic vegetable and herb seedlings.

• Co-op Sauce: Tabasco’s got nothing on Co-op Sauce. Try them all - Original, Carrot Habanero, Three Oak, Jalapeno… Co-op Sauce is handcrafted using wholesome ingredients some of which are grown in Co-op’s community garden. Half of the proceeds generated from their sales go directly to supporting Co-op Image’s free youth art center and community arts initiatives in based out of the Humboldt Park Neighborhood.

• Crumb will be bringing a raspberry-rhubarb focaccia bun to market this week. You can’t miss with raspberries and rhubarb.

• Beaver Creek Blooms: When you enter the Market, take a look to the right and you’ll see some of the most beautiful flowers in the land.

And there is much more:

• Fruit and Vegetables: Ellis Family Farms, Genesis Growers, Growing Power, Mick Klug Farms, River Valley Kitchens
• Cheese and Meat: Faith’s Farm, Mint Creek Farm, Stamper Cheese Co.
• Baked Goods and Prepared Foods: Brown Sugar Bakery, Subterranean Foods, Universal Crepes, Yah’s Vegan Soul Food

Chef Demo at 10:30am: Iccha Devi Ra (the Reluctant Vegetarian) will make the first of her monthly appearances at the Market. Iccha Devi will help us all celebrate spring and usher in summer with a tasty Pasta Primavera using a mélange of the fresh vegetables and herbs from the market, along with a tasty fruit and herb salad!

Market School from 10am to 1pm: Joelle Rabion of Health Coaches of Chicago (HCC) will be at Market School sharing her passion for healthy food and living. HCC is an association of health coaches, mind body and spirit advocates, and a group of wellness pioneers dedicated to helping create healthier, happier lives in our communities.

Coming in June

• Strawberries!
• B’Gabs Goodies
• Patchwork Farms
• Green Submarine Pickles

See you at the Market!