Fresh to your family: 2009’s best local crops

Supposedly April showers bring May flowers, but this year Chicago had better see some great July flowers; cloudy days and chilly weather carried up through early June. Chicagoans are starting to see the benefit manifested (albeit delayed by the weather) in that quintessential summer-in-the-city destination: the farmers’ market, where the stands sag beneath the weight of nature’s rainy bounty. Decider tracked down the best of what’s cropping up at markets across the city to see whether the weather made them even better.

Greens: Arugula, kale, baby lettuce, puntarella, and red rib dandelions
Price: $2.25 to $3.50 for a large bag
Where to get it: Try the Daley Plaza market. Easily accessible by public transportation, this centrally located market features an abundance of greens from more than 70 vendors.
Next: Toss these greens together for an easy, colorful salad. They’re also ideal as a wholesome pizza topping or tossed into any number of summer pasta dishes.
Who does it best: Les Nomades serves a spring vegetable salad of market greens, fines herbs, Banyuls vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil as part of its $70 “menu abrégé.”
Worth the wait? Yes. Cool temperatures have produced some of the crispest, sweetest leaves anyone’s likely to find this season. Grab ’em before the heat waves rob them of their spicy, nutty flavor.

Rhubarb
Price: $3 per pound.
Where to get it: Swing by Lincoln Park’s Green City Market to pick up some raw stalks; the Floriole Bakery booth also sells tubs of homemade rhubarb-caramel bread pudding.
Next: Indulge in a rhubarb crisp, a simple dessert with a rolled oats, butter, and cinnamon topping. Or just make a tart compote to serve over ice cream.
Who does it best: The city’s freshest rhubarb can be found at North Pond, just blocks away from Green City Market. Try the rhubarb-seared foie gras slice, rhubarb jelly doughnut, rhubarb compote, and a coffee reduction sauce.
Worth the wait? One of the heartiest spring crops, reliable ol’ rhubarb made it through the cold, rainy season just fine.

Asparagus
Price: $3 to $5 per bunch.
Where to get it: Try Federal Plaza between Dearborn and Clark streets. A smaller market in the Loop, it nevertheless provides a wide variety of fresh fruit and veggies.
Next: Brush the spears with some olive oil and throw ’em on the grill, and voila: a wholesome side dish with minimal prep time.
Who does it best: Try the grilled asparagus with asparagus bread and truffled egg salad at the Signature Room. Yes, this towering tourist trap keeps its prices steep, but that’s all the more reason to stick with the veggies, right?
Worth the wait? Definitely. The market-fresh asparagus is noticeably juicier, crisper, and thicker than any measly store-bought stalk.

Radishes
Price: $2.50 per bunch.
Where to get it: Try the Museum Of Contemporary Art/Streeterville market. This market’s open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., longer than most other markets in the city.
Next: Incorporate the radish into salads, or slice them up, sprinkle them with chili powder, and bake them for a spicy, crunchy snack.
Who does it best: Head to Naha for a “rillette” of duck leg confit, served with an arugula salad, “beauty heart” radishes, preserved cherries, cracked Marcona almonds, and apple cider syrup.
Worth the wait? Yep. Now’s the time to stock up on radishes: As the season progresses, they take on a spicier, woody flavor that often overwhelms dishes.

Strawberries
Price: $4 per pint.
Where to get it: Go for the Logan Square Farmers’ Market, which also sells fresh bread and baked goods—strawberries and shortcake await you.
Next: Incorporate the berries into desserts, or toss them into a salad and drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette.
Who does it best: Lula Café serves up a particularly delectable chocolate roulade with strawberry and cracked pepper.
Worth the wait? Barely. The cold rains produced small, bitter berries, often speckled with brown spots. Though, bakers will find that these berries prove ideal, lending tartness to otherwise overwhelmingly sweet desserts—enjoyed best on some extra-sunny July days.