What Was Local in Forest Park, What Is Local in River Forest, What Will Be Local in Oak Park

I got the near Western suburbs covered.

Last Saturday, the Forest Park French Market began its seasonal run. It's funny with farmer's markets. It's like the opposite of wine, with farmer's markets, it's like the the more you know and appreciate, the more you like bad markets. I mean my wife likes to tell the story about how disappointed we were on our first visit to the, first of the year, Oak Park Farmer's Market; we were like that's all. We soon learned about how things grew around here. Now, of course, it does not take much in a market to make me happy. More dry flowers, painted furniture and earrings than food, well so what.

Forest Park French last week had two produce merchants. One, Hardin Farms, from Michigan, is one of my favorites (they also sell in Oak Park). They were selling black walnuts, cracked black walnuts (!) and dried fruit. The other produce people was an operation with farms in Northern and Southern Illinois. They had the first local asparagus I've seen as well as radishes. Also, and to my happiness they had some stored garlic (also stored onions and potatoes but I did not need those). Instead of ruminating on this small holding, we took pleasure in buying what was there. Beside these guys, there was an Amish outfit selling the usual Amish stuff: pies (made with lard), noodles, rolls, and eggs. The French Nun sold pastries that only looked like what the French could make.

The local offerings at the Whole Foods in River Forest are not vast. Yet, in the vein of appreciating the small, let's appreciate what they have. Firstly, there are ramps, fresh, local ramps from Harmony Farms in Wisconsin. We purchased four bunches. Secondly, the fish counter featured three lake fish including gorgeous orange-tan lake trout. Thirdly, the cases across from the fish featured such local products as Rushing Waters rainbow trout spread and Organic Prairie bacon (for purists note that while based in Wisconsin, there is no guarantee that the Organic Valley/Prairie stuff comes from local farmers). Finally, as always, there's local milk and butter.

And to come, in Oak Park, I got a little preview of what will be there when the market opens on June 2, there will be a few additions. Bread and meat, continuing to move beyond just things grown in the ground, the Oak Park Farmer's Market this year will have two bread bakers and another meat vendor (chicken and lamb). I look forward fer sure.