Obdulia Vega’s Journey from Market to Dream
Obdulia Vega at her first Chef Demo in 2025, sharing her family’s Bean Tostadas and Salsa de Molcajete with the community.
61st Street Farmers Market’s mission is to connect people with their food, and Obdulia Vega’s story brings that vision to life.
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.
“I know how much love each farmer and vendor puts into their food. I know this as a fact because I worked with my grandparents to eat what we harvested. You can taste the love in all produce,” says Obdulia.
Since 2019, Obdulia and Jocelyn have made visiting the 61st Street Farmers Market a regular ritual, spending quality time together. Quickly, Obdulia began to notice how different the experience of shopping at a farmers market felt compared to a grocery store. At the Market, there is a strong sense of community, along with opportunities to learn, connect, and engage.
Before she started shopping at the Market, Obdulia says, “I would just go to the store, buy something, and leave. [...] At the store, no one talks to you, says ‘good morning’ or ‘how are you?’ At the market, even the produce greets you like an old friend that you haven't seen."
Each visit to the Market is an opportunity for Obdulia to talk with farmers, ask questions, and learn more about harvests, seasonal produce, and their health benefits. She also continues to expand her palate—trying new foods along the way. Once something she overlooked, rhubarb is now one of her favorites, thanks to encouragement from her daughter.
“The 61st market is part of our family in so many ways. Our health as a family has been impacted for the better. The change to fresh, local food has shifted our whole health. [...] When I make a guisado (stew) with local mushrooms and veggies, it nourishes us so much more and longer.”
During a time when Obdulia relied on SNAP benefits, the Market also became an important source of support. Through Link Match of the Link Up Illinois program, she was able to stretch her budget and access more fresh, healthy food for her family during difficult times.
“Link match gives more value in my dollar to buy even more. [...] Link match helped us stay afloat during a hard time.”
At Obdulia’s first Chef Demo in 2025, sharing her family recipe for Bean Tostadas and Salsa de Molcajete alongside her daughter and mother.
Seeing vendors from many different backgrounds and the variety of products they offer, Obdulia began to imagine sharing her own recipes with the community. In 2025, she hosted several Chef Demos at the Market, sharing her delicious dishes that were enjoyed by everyone at the Market.
“If there was one secret ingredient for our Chef Demo recipes, it would be my love for the 61st Street Farmers Market. Each chef demo brought wonderful conversations, hope, and new experiences, as many were willing to try something new. These moments helped me realize my dreams were meant to be lived.”
Today, Obdulia is building her own food business, Casa Lara Repostería.
“Going to the Market helped me see myself. [...] My life purpose is to be with people and share something that brings us together. The [...] vendors inspired me by their craft and passion. The Market helped me see my new chapter to finally follow my dreams to open up my business.”
With the support of her daughter, Jocelyn, Obdulia has started catering events. She dreams of something more, hoping to one day join the market community that has nourished her.
Check out Obdulia’s recipes she shared with our Market community:
Recipe of Bean Tostadas and Salsa de Molcajete
Recipe of Butternut Squash Atole
Flan cooked by double boiler on the stove
