Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand: A fresh stop for Chicago locavores and food lovers

Chicago just gets it. Quality of life, greener living, supporting local food producers… The latest proof is Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand, a city pilot program and downtown retail outlet for “edible local products, all produced within 250 miles of Chicago,” as their website says. Run by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with Chicago’s existing local and sustainable food communities, the store just opened October 1. It promises “fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs in season; a full range of condiments, preserves, seasonings and other dry goods items; baked goods and other seasonal items as available.”

We visited this past weekend and found a wide selection of precisely that. Heirloom tomatoes from Illinois, pasta from an Amish community in Indiana… And this gorgeous partially baked pie made with cherries from Michigan, from First Slice Pie Café in Chicago, a self-funding charity that provides access to wholesome food for those living in poverty. We finished the pie in our oven at home and all but finished it off in one sitting [we did have company, I’d like to point out]. There were fresh herbs and produce, dried beans, jams, pickled mushrooms and more from small, independent local producers. One of our favorites, The Spice House, was well represented with a selection of dried herbs and spices.

There were some other surprises too, proving that pride for local food production knows no size. They carry Morton Kosher Salt and Bay’s English Muffins, for instance, both local favorites produced for decades right here in Chicago. And salsas and chips from comparative upstart Rick Bayless’ Frontera Foods.

For farmers and local producers, Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand offers an outlet besides the seasonal weekend Farmers Markets in the city. And even better, they don’t have to be on hand to make sales. But the store’s mission goes beyond selling food. Organizers say that it will “serve as a hub for the local sustainable food industry, offering educational programs and activities, including classes, discussions and seminars, designed to foster interaction between local growers/producers and Chicago residents and visitors.” The store will operate as a pilot program through mid-December this year; plans are for it to reopen full time next spring.

Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand
66 E. Randolph
Tuesday – Friday, 11am – 7pm
Saturday, 11am – 4pm

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10 thoughts on “Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand: A fresh stop for Chicago locavores and food lovers”

  1. Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand sounds great in every way. Terrific idea for consumers and local growers. I just love stuff like this, Terry B. Thanks so much for bringing it to our attention. Chicago really does get it. Hope it does make it to permanent status next year. Here in New York, restaurants are beginning to use local foods wherever possible. I imagine that’s a growing trend there too.

  2. JABG—Yep, local foods are catching on here too. For some time, local chefs have prowled the farmers markets. More to the point, they’ve struck up relationships with small farmers and food producers to stock their restaurant kitchens. One of our favorites is mado. When we ordered ramps as an appetizer on their second night in business, we were told that the farmer was stuck in traffic on his way to deliver them. When he arrived with the ramps, we asked for two orders, even though our main courses had been served by then.

  3. Ooooh! mado looks wonderful – even more so knowing the chef buys local. Would love to take friends there if I ever visit.

  5. Hahahaha! (I think.) Dreaming already of the hanger steak. And the lamb. And the pork. Meat you and the beautiful Marion in Bucktown, Terry B.!

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