Lake Forest Farmers Market

Serving the Lake Forest community in Illinois, Lake Forest Farmers Market is where local agriculture meets neighborhood life — a gathering place for families, foodies, and farmers alike.

The market runs Saturdays, 8 AM - 1 PM, May - October. Confirm hours before visiting as vendor availability can vary week to week.

Local growers and makers at Lake Forest Farmers Market bring Vegetables and Fruits to market each week. Selection peaks during the height of the local growing season.

Lake Forest 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. Lake Forest Farmers Market contributes to that network by giving Lake Forest-area growers and food producers a reliable, recurring venue for direct sales.

For consumers, the practical benefit of shopping at Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest Farmers Market is also worth noting. When you spend money at Lake Forest Farmers Market, most of that money stays within the Lake Forest 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.

Shopping at Lake Forest Farmers Market means investing directly in the Lake Forest local economy and supporting the farmers and makers who produce food for the region.

Contact Lake Forest Farmers Market directly to learn about accepted payment methods, including whether SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted.