🍓 Fresh strawberries have officially arrived at the 61st Street Farmers Market—and that means summer is on! These vibrant, juicy gems are locally grown, picked fresh, and packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.

Find everbearing and day-neutral varieties now through fall at Ellis Family Farm and Mick Klug Farm.

✨ Want to try something new? Don’t miss Chef Romana Baptiste’s Strawberry Vinaigrette recipe—it’s summer in a bite.

FUN FACT: Strawberries aren’t actually berries—and those little seeds on the outside? They’re the real fruit!

Whether you know them for their fresh produce, mushrooms, or iconic yellow compost bins, @theurbancanopy is doing so much more than showing up at farmers markets. Founded in 2011, their mission is to make healthy food accessible, reduce food miles, divert waste from landfills, and create meaningful local jobs.

As farmers market season kicks off, Link Up Illinois celebrates the impact of Link Match, which doubles SNAP dollars for fruits and vegetables. In 2024, over $800,000 was spent at markets and stands, helping families access fresh food while supporting local farmers and communities. This year, 125+ farmers markets are participating—ready to double the spending power of SNAP shoppers across Illinois.

Trish Bellmore, Executive Director of the Greater Wabash Food Council, is a standout regional partner of Link Up Illinois. After joining as a Link Match partner in 2024 through Pete’s Produce Farmers Market, Trish’s leadership led to the establishment of Greater Wabash as a regional hub. Since then, she has secured SNAP authorization for Grayville Farmers Market and launched four additional markets—in Carmi, Fairfield, Olney, and West Salem—all of which now accept SNAP and Link Match. Her work highlights the vital role that local leaders with deep community roots play in expanding food access across Illinois.

Ever wonder how a single bite can take you on a trip around the world? Meet Chef Royce Lowery and Danielle Mitchell, founders of Kaya Grill & Gyoza, one of our market’s new and exciting vendors!

We’re thrilled to welcome back Black Taco to the 61st Street Farmers Market this season! After taking a break last year, they’re back—and ready to feed the Woodlawn community once again.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newbie, our farmers are here to help you select the perfect plants for your indoor herb garden, balcony, or backyard raised bed. They can help you select plants that go well together (called companions), that are hardy enough to hold up to the forgetful gardener (has it been a week since i watered??), and ones that are best for sunny or shady areas. Bring a cardboard box if you plan on buying more than one plant! It will make transporting them much easier.

In just two weeks, the 61st Street Farmers Market will be kicking off its 18th outdoor season—and we couldn't be more excited!

On Saturday, May 17, we will be back outside on 61st Street with at least 32 amazing vendors lined up this year, including some longtime favorites like Mint Creek Farm, Ellis Family Farms, and Gorman Farm Fresh Produce. Stay tuned–the new vendors will be revealed soon! to launch the 2025 market season.