Oak Park Farmers' Market

More information about the 2023 season coming soon

• No Bicycles - for safety reasons, bicycles must be left outside the Market. Walking with bikes though the Market is also prohibited.
• No Smoking – be considerate of your fellow shoppers. Please don't smoke within the market area.
• No Pets - state health codes prohibit pets of any kind on Market premises while the market is in operation, except support animals trained to assist their physically challenged owners. 
• No Soliciting - soliciting or circulating petitions are not allowed on market premises while the market is in operation.

Free parking is available in the Oak Park River Forest High School parking garage on Scoville Avenue, just north of Lake Street. The parking garage does have dedicated parking for persons with disabilities. General customer parking on the north side of Lake Street, from Scoville to Elmwood, will be prohibited. Limited parking for persons with disabilities can be found on Lake Street just south of the Market.

Nearby streets also offer parking during market hours. But parking regulations are enforced in the area and athletic events at the high school often create competition for prime parking spaces, both on the street and in the garage.

Oak Park Township is offering rides to and from the Oak Park Farmers' Market throughout the season. Pickups are made from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday.

The van will be parked at the corner of Lake Street and Elmwood Avenue.

To schedule a ride, call 708.383.4806 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Limited seats are available and COVID-19 protocols, including social distancing and wearing face coverings, will be required. 

There is a suggested donation is $1 per ride.

Click here for more information about the Township's Senior Services.

Every Saturday of the market season a crew of donut makers arrives at Pilgrim Church in the early hours of the morning to make fresh coffee, juice and donuts for market patrons. The donuts are old-fashioned cake donuts, served warm and covered with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar or plain. Buy them singly or by the dozen. Various local non-profit organizations take part in the donut efforts, earning money for the church and their organizations.

Market patrons can sit at a table and enjoy donuts while listening to live bluegrass music provided by local musicians.

Come early. Donuts often sell out before noon.

All payment methods, including cash, are accepted at the Market. Acceptable payment methods may vary by vendor.

While most vendors accept credit or debit cards (either at the both or thorugh the information tent), be sure to bring cash for donuts, bake sales and the corn roast.

The Farmers' Market will match LINK card sales up to $25 with double value coupons each week. Stop by the information tent for more information.

Matching coupons worth up to $25 are available to SNAP shoppers at the live Market.

Click the image below for more information about the matching coupon program:

• May 21 & May 28 – Go Green Days
  Kick of the Market with a focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
   
• August 13 – Corn Roast
  Taste the sweetest, freshest roasted corn right at the market. Bring cash to buy an ear or two!
  
   
• September 17 – Pie Bake-off
  Create your best pie featuring market ingredients. Sign up to compete as a baker, apply to be a judge by sharing your passion and qualifications in two paragraphs or less at farmersmarket@oak-park.us, or just come to watch the judging!
  
   
• October 29 – Stone Soup
  Warm up with free soup made from our farmers’ donations and shop the final market of the season.
   

The Oak Park Farmers' Market's fifth annual Pie Bake-Off was held Sept. 17. This year's contest winners are listed below:

• 1st Place:  Adam Petrzelka - Pearadise
• 2nd Place:  Ashima Gupta and Alvie Gilbert – Goodness Grape-cious 
• 3rd Place:  Nicole Gucciardo and Rick Young – Harvest Apple, Walnut and Custard Galette

Click here for the recipes for the top three pies that were entered in this year's contest.

The Farmers’ Market Commission appreciate all contest entrants, as well as the Farmers’ Market volunteers and Village staff who helped to make the contest successful.

Click here for more photos from the event. 

Adam Petrzelka won first place in the 2022 Oak Park Farmers' Market Pie Bake-Off with his Pearadise pie.

Click the image below for a chart showing when different fruits and vegetables are in season in Illinois (click on image to view larger):

The Oak Park Farmers’ Market relies on volunteers who help staff the on-site information booth and help with special events. Referred to as Friends of the Market, these volunteers typically serve two-hour shifts. Volunteer tasks include answering shoppers’ questions about the market and vendors, helping sell Market merchandise and directing visitors around the site. For more information on becoming a Friend of the Market email farmersmarket@oak-park.us.  

A few things to keep in mind as you volunteer:

• The Market is open every Saturday during the season, rain or shine.
• No long-term commitment is required.
• Training is on the job. A Market Commissioner or Market Manager is present at each shift to answer questions and assist volunteers.
• Free market parking is available in the Oak Park and River Forest High School parking garage on Scoville Avenue, just north of Lake Street.

The Oak Park Farmers’ Market is a community resource with the following goals:

1. Build relationships between regional farmers and Oak Park area residents through direct interaction.
2. Improve the variety, freshness, taste and nutritional value of farm products available in the Oak Park area.
3. Enhance the quality of life in the greater Oak Park area by fostering community gatherings.
4. Provide an educational forum on the uses and benefits of sustainable practices and regionally grown or prepared foods.
5. Provide a dynamic, locally grown, producer-only marketplace.
6. Make healthy regionally produced foods accessible to lower-income residents. 

Independent farmers and producers from around the Midwest bring their goods to the market each week. 

The Oak Park Farmers' Market Commission has a blog as a way to share the stories of the farmers who come to Oak Park each Saturday to share their wares with customers. New and existing farmers will be profiled on the blog during the Farmers' Market season.

Click here for a vendor map.

Below is information about vendors who participated in the 2021 Market:

• Get to know Josiah (Joe) and Jody Klinedinst from J2K Capraio Cheesemakers and Joe Burns from Brunkow Cheese
   
• Get to know Lloyd and Doreen Nichols from Nichols Farm and Orchard
   

American Pride Microfarm - Bridgman, MI
Year-round naturually grown microgreens and knife-sharpening services
Accepts LINK

Barry’s Berries - Covert, MI
Fruits and veggies
Accepts LINK

Breadman Baking Co. - Naperville, IL
Bread and baked goods
Accepts LINK

Brian Severson Farms - Dwight, IL
Certified organic grains (flours, meals, grits, rolled oats, corn)
Accepts LINK
Severson organic products will be available at the Breadman Baking Co. booth this season

Brunkow Cheese - Mineral Point, WI
Cheese and butter
Acccepts LINK

Chanticlare Farm - Aurora, IL
Produce, herbs and cut flowers

Ellis Family Farm - Benton Harbor, MI
Fruits, veggies, eggs and honey
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Finn's Ranch - Buchanan, MI
Meat and variety of eggs raised on certified organic pasture
Accepts LINK

Geneva Lakes Produce - Burlington, WI
Fruits and veggies
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Green Fire Farm
Regenerative ag, meats and eggs
Present bi-weekly
Accepts LINK

Hardin Farms - Eau Claire, MI
Fruits and veggies
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Herbally Yours - Willow Springs, IL
Vinegars, herbs and dry herb rubs
Present part-time only
Accepts LINK

J2K Capraio Farmstead Dairy & Artisan Creamery - Walkerton, IN
Artisinal goat cheeses
Accepts LINK

Johanson’s Apple World - Baroda, MI
Fruits, veggies and cider
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Katic Breads - Aurora, IL
Bread
Accepts LINK

La Provence - Chicago, IL
European bread items
Accepts LINK

Lyman Ave. Break - Oak Park, IL
Sourdough and seeded breads
Accepts LINK

Nichols Farm & Orchard - Marengo, IL
Fruits, veggies and dry beans
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

River Valley Ranch - Burlington, WI
Mushrooms, salsa, pickles, spreads, veggie burgers
Certified Organic
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Skibbe Farms - Eau Claire, MI
Fruits, veggies, cider and plants
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

R. Smits & Sons - Burr Ridge, IL
Fruits and veggies
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Smits Organics - Westmont, IL
Flowers and potted plants

Stovers Farm Market - Berrien Springs, MI
Fruits, veggies, honey, dried fruit
Accepts WIC, LINK and senior coupons

Three Bees - Bartlett, IL
Honey and Honey Products
Accepts WIC and LINK