Farmers market season is here… The locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables… the fun, friendly outdoor space… the delicious food from local vendors…

While we are excited about all that, we at Link Up Illinois are particularly thrilled that this year, we are partnering with over 120 farmers markets across Illinois to provide SNAP recipients with access to fresh fruits and vegetables through Link Match.

This Saturday, May 16, the 61st Street Farmer Market is officially kicking off our 19th outdoor season, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you back!

We have an incredible lineup of 40 vendors ready for 2026, featuring a mix of fresh faces and longtime favorites. This year’s roster includes Earthlore Farm for delicious seasonal vegetables, Hook Point Fisheries for premium sushi-grade fish, J2K Capraio for artisanal cheeses and sausages, Mick Klug Farms for the freshest local fruits, and Montelimar for handcrafted baked goods.

For Obdulia Vega, the 61st Street Farmers Market is more than a place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It brings back childhood memories of growing up on a farm, strengthens her relationship with her daughter, Jocelyn Vega, and encourages her to try new foods she might not have otherwise considered. Most of all, it has helped spark her dream of opening a restaurant.

The 2025 Increasing Food Access Report highlights a year of strong impact, deep partnerships, and continued innovation—expanding access to fresh, locally grown food while laying the foundation for a more resilient and equitable food system amid growing challenges ahead.

Have you ever tried Asian Pears? The varieties that Oriana's Orchard, a 61st Street Market stalwart, grows are special. Besides its fresh and delicious taste that you cannot get from any grocery store pears, there is the dedication and resilience of Oriana Kruszewski, the farmer and owner.

This year’s 2025 Newsletter highlights inspiring stories of food access, youth leadership, and community creativity—from a mother and son’s shared journey at Blackstone Bicycle Works, to a week with our 61st Street Farmers Market team, to Link Up Illinois’ statewide growth in multilingual outreach and fresh food access. And that’s just the beginning.

Meet Jana Kinsman of Bike a Bee — a longtime 61st Street Farmers Market vendor whose honey tells the story of Chicago’s neighborhoods. 🍯
Each jar is harvested from a specific area, giving every batch its own sense of place and flavor. From her first ten hives in 2012 to nearly 100 today, Jana’s journey is as rich and sweet as her honey. 💛
Catch her and her locally harvested honey every week at the Market!

Growing Home is a nonprofit, USDA-certified 1.75-acre organic farm located in Englewood, Chicago. Since joining the 61st Street Farmers Market in 2022, customers have come to rely on them for high-quality, delicious organic produce such as greens, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and hundreds of other varieties.

Meze Table and Hook Point Fisheries may come from opposite corners of the world, but they share a common heart: family, friendship, and a deep love for connecting people through food.