Celebrating National Farmers Market Week: Why Markets Matter Now More Than Ever

National Farmers Market Week (August 4–10) is a time to celebrate the 61st Street Farmers Market—and farmers markets across Illinois—for the vital role they play in our communities.

1. The power of local food nourishes communities and strengthens the local economy

2. An access point for healthy food with Link Match

3. Beyond dollars and data, farmers markets bring people together

This week, we’re proud to spotlight one of our longest-standing vendors at the 61st Street Farmers Market, Ellis Family Farms. With deep roots dating back to the 1920s, this family-run farm has been growing produce in Benton Harbor, Michigan for over 100 years. Today, the legacy continues with René Ellis, who officially took over the 60 acre farm from her parents in 2005 and now runs it alongside her husband, Bruce.

The Englewood community on Chicago’s South Side has long faced a lack of full-service grocery stores, affordable produce, and safe spaces for families to gather. That began to change with the opening of Go Green Fresh Market and the launch of the Link Match program for SNAP recipients.

Grant Kessler is a Chicago-based food photographer and passionate local food advocate. He is currently supporting Experimental Station as a Project Manager to organize and coordinate the creation of an Illinois Food System Roadmap. We interviewed him to learn more.

For years, Experimental Station has voiced our concern that Illinois is a severely food insecure state, importing more than 95% of the foods we eat. This, despite being one of the country’s leading agricultural states. Out of that concern grew our suggestion for Illinois to create a plan to rebuild the state’s food system, such that Illinois farmers would produce more foods that we can eat and have the infrastructure and markets to process, distribute, and sell their products.

This month, we’re celebrating our beloved fruit vendors—and no one does it quite like Mick Klug Farm, a third-generation family farm rooted in legacy and local love. Founded in the 1930s by Edward and Clara Klug, this family-run operation located in St. Joseph, Michigan has been serving Chicago’s farmers markets for over 45 years.

This is a natural outcome of our global food supply. When every vegetable is seemingly available at the grocery year round, does seasonality even matter? Barbara Kingslover offers a way to remember what’s in season in her 2007 book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle:

As we spotlight coffee in our community this week, we’re thrilled to highlight Kikwetu Kenya Coffee Company, a beloved vendor at the 61st Street Farmers Market.

We’ve got two amazing coffee vendors for you at the 61st Street Farmers Market—and we’d love to share their stories with you.