Chicago’s Green City Market Keeps Organic Farmers Honest

In the shadow of Chicago’s skyline, a country fair atmosphere brings together dozens of local farmers and producers for the Green City Market. But this is no ordinary farmers’ market, because this one sells only organic goods.

Mayor Richard M. Daley cut the ribbon on the 10th annual market May 14 in Lincoln Park. The market brings together 45 certified organic growers and vendors twice a week during the summer at the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark St. and Stockton Drive.

Outreach tops the agenda for the market’s executive director Lyle Allen. “I think we have a great foundation for significant growth over the next year,” Allen said. He planning to have cooking demonstrations and educational programs on market days.

Vicki Westerhoff, the owner of Genesis Growers, has sold organic produce, eggs, flowers, herbs and homemade soap at the market for years.

She said the market is excellent because it draws many people who are concerned about environmental and organic issues. She said going home to her farm at the end of a market day with an empty truck was a great feeling.

For Westerhoff, market days are more than a chance to sell goods. “Our lives during the summer’s growing season are not very social because we are confined to our farms and doing what we do,” Westerhoff said. “For me the market is a time to see people. It’s a social event for us.”

Vendors must go through an extensive application process. A committee selects small-business vendors who can certify their credentials as organic farmers or producers. The market works with the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and uses so-called “farm foragers” who visit participating farmers and producers and verify their organic status Allen said.

A 28-page application requires that vendors list the agency that certified their product organic. The farm’s individual practices and production methods are displayed at their booth on market days. It must explain how they “show care and respect for the environment and the community.”

In keeping with the “know your farmers” goal, vendors must provide the selection committee with a map of the farm, a property tax bill, a description of pest control practices, a list of any chemicals used to control insects and weeds, verification of any growth hormones used on livestock, plus all ingredient lists for baked goods and products.

Chicago Honey Co-op founder, Michael Thompson, said the lengthy application keeps farmers and vendors honest. He said he had no problem listing chemicals, because none are used on his bee farm in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. But providing the ingredient list in percentages was another matter.

“It took me a while to get around to working those percentages. I usually keep them in my head,” Thompson said. He appreciated the request, however, because he said farmers’ markets have difficulty sometimes finding vendors who grow all the food and products themselves. “I like that they are careful about that.”

“People come to this market to buy some fresh produce, baked goods and even sit down and have a cup of coffee with friends,” Westerhoff said.

The Green City Market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from now until Oct. 28 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.