Maxwell Street Market

Maxwell Street Market operates in Chicago, Illinois as a dedicated space for small farms and local food businesses to sell directly to the public — no middlemen, just fresh goods.

Hours are listed as Sundays, 7 AM - 3 PM, Year-round. It's always worth calling ahead or checking social media for last-minute changes.

Maxwell Street Market carries Vegetables and Fruits among its regular vendor offerings. Product variety changes week to week.

Maxwell Street 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. Maxwell Street Market contributes to that network by giving Chicago-area growers and food producers a reliable, recurring venue for direct sales.

For consumers, the practical benefit of shopping at Maxwell Street 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 Maxwell Street 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 Maxwell Street Market is also worth noting. When you spend money at Maxwell Street Market, most of that money stays within the Chicago 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 Maxwell Street Market are essential to Chicago's food landscape — they keep dollars local, reduce supply chain distance, and give residents access to fresher food than most retail options.

Contact Maxwell Street Market directly to learn about accepted payment methods, including whether SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted.