Downtown Evanston Farmers Market

As a registered farmers market in Evanston, Illinois, Downtown Evanston Farmers Market connects the local community with the growers and artisans who supply fresh, seasonal food throughout the market season.

Hours are listed as Saturdays, 7:30 AM - 1 PM, May - November. It's always worth calling ahead or checking social media for last-minute changes.

Downtown Evanston Farmers Market is part of a national network of farmers markets that have grown substantially over the past two decades. According to USDA data, the number of registered farmers markets in the United States has expanded significantly, reflecting growing consumer demand for local, transparent food sourcing. Downtown Evanston Farmers Market contributes to that network by giving Evanston-area growers and food producers a reliable, recurring venue for direct sales.

For consumers, the practical benefit of shopping at Downtown Evanston Farmers Market is freshness. Produce sold at a farmers market is typically harvested within 24 to 72 hours of sale — far less time than the average transit and distribution time for produce in conventional supply chains. That shorter journey from field to table has real implications for flavor, nutritional density, and shelf life at home. Strawberries bought at Downtown Evanston Farmers Market on a Saturday morning are simply a different product from strawberries that have traveled across the country in a refrigerated truck.

The economic impact of a market like Downtown Evanston Farmers Market is also worth noting. When you spend money at Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, most of that money stays within the Evanston area. Small farms and food businesses that sell direct-to-consumer do not depend on wholesale distribution margins, which means a larger percentage of each sale goes back to the producer — and back into the local economy. That is a meaningful difference from shopping at a national chain retailer.

Markets like Downtown Evanston Farmers Market are essential to Evanston's food landscape — they keep dollars local, reduce supply chain distance, and give residents access to fresher food than most retail options.

Downtown Evanston Farmers Market participates in the SNAP/EBT program, allowing benefit recipients to purchase eligible fresh foods directly from local producers.