Whether you are enjoying, or simply surviving, the summer heat, the impact on local agriculture has been intense. The worst drought in 50 years and record heat waves have crippled crops and threaten livestock. And as the planet continues to heat up, droughts will increase in severity in our region. Although sustainable practices can mitigate drought effects and, if broadly adopted, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our local producers are confronted everyday with the challenges of extreme weather. At the 61st Street Farmers Market, we invite you to ‘Connect with Your Food,’ which means connecting with the realities of agriculture on a changing planet. Come support your local, sustainable, climate-conscious farmers and food producers by shopping at the 61st Street Farmers Market this and every Saturday between 9am-2pm.

• At Faith’s Farm, climate change is killing Kim Snyder's cattle; she lost two of her momma cows, a calf and a donkey to the heat in the past several weeks. In addition, she and other farmers selling at our Market are struggling to grow or purchase hay to feed their animals this winter, as the drought has destroyed the majority of the crop. If you can stock up your freezers this summer to give Faith's Farm and Mint Creek Farm a revenue boost to enable them to purchase hay for the winter, you will make a difference. Not to mention that you will be availing yourself of the best and purest pork, beef, lamb, goat, and chicken around!
• The unusually warm winter and late frost destroyed much of the 2012 fruit crop, so Mick Klug Orchards is adapting by selling fruit and vegetables this year. This week Mick Klug Orchards will be selling plums, seedless grapes, peaches, nectarines, blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, sweet corn, green beans.....
• Growing Power offers organically grown vegetables produced right here in Chicago. Now, that is local and climate conscious! In addition to their great variety of greens, tomatoes, sprouts, beets, green peppers and other veggies, Growing Power will be selling non-GMO, organically grown sweet corn!
• Mike & Clare will be bringing sustainably-grown kale, chard, squash, basil, scallions, beets, carrots, parsley, eggplant, leeks, cippolini onions....
• Have to say, Penny Pastries are totally wonderful in any climate. Almond croissants, raisin croissants, chocolate croissants, coffeecake, Pennydoodles, country bread and biscuits.
• Spice! is doing its part, sourcing their ingredients from our Market producers. This week, they will be cooking up a new item called the "Egg Roll"—an omelet rolled and stuffed with seasonal vegetables. Here is this Saturday's menu: Breakfast Taco (egg/tomato/peppers/onions/cotija cheese); Market Burrito (kale/green rice/black beans/new potatoes/cilantro sauce); Torta (roasted chicken/Asian cucumber/tomato/purple onion/feta/olive oil); Chicken Taco (roasted chicken/cilantro/white onions/tomatillo salsa); Egg Roll (egg/kale/tomatoes/purple peppers/bacon/pea shoots/cotija cheese).
• • At 10:30am, please join Chef Gail Kerr at the Chef Demo tent to learn how to prepare a Spinach Watermelon Salad.
• • From 10am-1pm, stop by the Market School tent where the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will provide us with information about fishing licenses and other ways to get in touch with our food environment. Three interns will also be on hand to share their reports on food access and health disparities in Chicago.

See you at the Market!