5 Surprising (and Tasty) Farmer's Market Finds

Overcast skies and a chilly breeze didn’t stop foodies from attending the second week of the this past Saturday, in search of the freshest fruits, vegetables and other yummy treats.

Tinley Park Patch paid a visit to the farmer’s market and scored some great finds.

Here are some the best five vendors (in our eyes) that this week had to offer.

Churchill Orchard Talks Fail-Proof Asparagus

Owner Michael Churchill believes strongly in selling only what is in season, he said. His offerings this week? Strawberries and asparagus—all grown and harvested on his family’s farm located in Coloma, Mich.

Here’s Michael’s tip for preparing fail-proof asparagus.

“Snip an inch off the bottom, grill on medium heat, rolling it around for about two minutes on each side. If you can pierce it fairly easily with a fork, it’s done. Serve with a good vinaigrette dressing.”

Don’t you hate it when the pint of strawberries turn moldy before you can enjoy the berries?

Michael suggests taking the strawberries out of the container and keeping them cold and dry. They need air to prevent early molding, so an air-tight container is not ideal, he said.

In upcoming weeks, Michael promises sugar snap peas, red raspberries, blueberries, and sweet cherries. We can’t wait.

Guggisburg Deutsch Kase Haus is all About the Cheese

Straight from the heart of Indiana’s Amish country, Guggisburg Deutsch Kase Haus of Middlebury brings award winning stirred-curd cheeses, as well as jellies and breads to the TP Farmer’s Market most weekends. Patch tried Guggisburg's most requested cheese flavors— butter cheese and bacon—and we're so glad we did!

Labriola Bakery Brings Breads

Get your carb load with goodies from Labriola Bakery! Customers swear by the flavor and texture of these artisan loaves, which was easy to see by the bustling farm stand the bakery had all morning.

Debbie Labriola Lale brought an assortment of French bread, Parmesan cheese and garlic loaves, pecan raisin rolls, as well as pastries and cookies Saturday that were fresh from the Labriola Bakery ovens in Alsip. The pretzel loaf was the crowd favorite by a landslide. One devoted fan, Mary Husa, drove in from Chicago Heights to get her weekly supply.

“I like to cut the pretzel loaf in thin slices,” she said. “Then I sauté them in some olive oil and season them with salt or Italian seasonings. They’re delicious as croutons or just plain snacking.”

Big John’s Farm Market and Greenhouses

Ask anyone for directions to good produce, and many will point to the vendors wearing bright red shirts branded with, “Big John’s."

A longtime TP Farmer’s Market staple, Big John’s sells a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants, many of which are grown in the business' family-owned operation in Chicago Heights. This week’s offerings included leaf lettuce, colorful garden planters and hanging baskets.

Christensen Popcorn Wagon

Shoppers looking to quench their thirst headed straight to the red and gold wagon stationed in the middle of the market. There, Marge and Chris Christensen, of Tinley Park, served up a mean lemonade shake-up, as well as Sno-cones and freshly popped popcorn.

What a great way to end a morning!

The Tinley Park Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. through the end of September, at Zabrocki Plaza, 17116 Oak Park Ave., in the Metra parking lot. For more information, call 708-805-GROW.