Greater Chatham Initiative Launches the Chatham Farmers Market on Chicago’s South Side

Greater Chatham Initiative announces its latest addition to its roster of community programs.

Greater Chatham Initiative Launches the Chatham Farmers Market on Chicago’s South Side

Greater Chatham Initiative announces its latest addition to its roster of community programs.

Chatham Farmers Market is a new market offering fresh produce, and handcrafted products, located at the Mahalia Jackson Court, 1 E 79th St. The farmers market will feature up to 15 vendors a week who will be selling fresh produce, flowers, spices, honey, baked goods, ice cream and much more. The Chatham Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will run until October 5th.

The Chatham Farmers Market is more than just a market. Greater Chatham Initiative invites all Chicago residents to explore this food-focused event that promotes healthy eating options and showcases Greater Chatham’s rich neighborhood culture. The Chatham Farmers Market offers activities to keep the whole family engaged such as weekly produce raffles, merchandise giveaways, group yoga, and kid-focused activities like scavenger hunts, market bingo, and story-time hours.

Some of the participating vendors include Amazing Community Pop Ups featuring locally sourced fruits and vegetables; Blooms N Bees featuring flowers and bee products; Jackson Family Farm featuring fresh blueberries from Michigan; and Naturals by Nette featuring plant based skin-care products. Other items featured at the farmers market include mushrooms, hot sauces, spices, packaged meals, fresh-made lemonade, juices, boozy ice cream, and candles.

Farmers markets provide an opportunity to provide fresh produce directly from the farms to the customers. The Chatham Farmers Market is one of the few farmers markets on the South Side. There is only one other farmers market in a 3 mile radius, which gives the Greater Chatham Initiative a unique chance to create a huge impact for South Side residents by providing fresh food and goods. In a poll by Greater Chatham Initiative, residents voted overwhelmingly for a farmers market to be added to the community. The market will be the perfect chance for people to enjoy the warm Chicago weather and explore what the beautiful Mahalia Jackson Court has to offer.

Chatham Farmers Markets is inviting local interested vendors to contact Jeff Paschal, Project Coordinator, jeff@greaterchathaminitiative.org, (773) 644-1451 for more information. The

Chatham Farmers Market is also part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Road to Recovery Plan.

Greater Chatham Initiative started from community efforts to respond to an urgent situation and has grown into a community economic development organization that is deeply rooted. With Greater Chatham Initiative’s leadership, the future for our communities to thrive is possible and within reach.

The mission of the Greater Chatham Initiative is to strategically invest in the Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Avalon Park, and Auburn Gresham Chicago neighborhoods, so that they can continue being communities of opportunities and choice. Greater Chatham comprises Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham and Greater Grand Crossing. The 15-square mile area is roughly bounded by: South Chicago Avenue to the east, the Dan Ryan Woods to the west, 63rd Street to the north and 87th Street to the south. 122,000 residents call Greater Chatham home.


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