Downtown Year-round Farmstand!

Who knew? Maybe I heard and forgot. But I saw a news feature recently to remind me. The Downtown Farmstand is another little gem for us “City Folks” who want a taste of the country. This is even better than the weekly “Farmer’s Market” set-ups at Daley Plaza and other outdoor locations in the Downtown area. For starters, it’s indoors. And it’s year-round! WOO-HOO! Apparently, the Downtown Farmstand has taken over the space across the street from the Cultural Center, which used to be a Hot Tix outlet and the site of many other temporary exhibits. The exact location is: 66 E. Randolph Street.

It’s only been open there since October 2008. I’m very anxious to visit since I know the outdoor markets will be closing soon. (Another sign that Summer is ending, and Fall is fast approaching!) I’m also anxious to compare it to the French Market in the Metra Ogilvie train station.

I was surprised to hear about how much they managed to pack into this deceptively small space. About a hundred vendors and hundreds of items/products - all grown at local and regional farms. Plus items like honey, produced by the happy honeybees living in a maintained hive on top of the City Hall/County Building. In addition to that and your basic fruits, vegetables, and herbs, there’s a selection of dairy products, condiments, salad dressings, and baked goods. And if all that wasn’t enough, the Downtown Farmstand also offers cooking demonstrations, seminars, and tastings. And the cost: ZIP, Zero, Nada! (Except for the items you buy.)

Downtown Chicago has become so much more than the business/commercial area it was 20-some years ago. With the influx of residential housing, little oases like the Downtown Farmstand have been established to serve the needs of us “City Dwellers”. YAY!!!