Buying Local Meat in Chicago

July 18, 2006 7:57 AM

Where can I buy locally-raised meat and dairy products in Chicago?

I am looking for places where I can purchase locally-farmed meat and dairy products in Chicago (preferably North Side, but I'm willing to travel a bit). I know that Green City Market has lots of stuff, but I'm hoping for something that's year-round and a bit more consistant. Specifically, I'm looking for eggs, milk, beef and chicken and while I know I can get organic stuff at Whole Foods, I'm very interested in eating more locally-produced foods.

posted by fancypants to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

This usually comes up first with these types of questions: http://www.eatwellguide.org/
posted by sdis at 8:05 AM on July 18, 2006

paulina meat market on lincoln near belmont has some locally raised meats (they have other meats as well).
posted by crush-onastick at 8:14 AM on July 18, 2006

Traders Point Creamery has superbly delicious (whole) milk and yogurt. Looks like a number of places in Chicago sell their stuff.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:39 AM on July 18, 2006

I haven't been there yet, but Newleaf Natural Grocery in Rogers Park claims to have locally raised meat and dairy.
posted by 912 Greens at 8:52 AM on July 18, 2006

Are you looking for raw milk? Or just direct-from-the-farm milk?
posted by Alt F4 at 8:54 AM on July 18, 2006

Response by poster: Just direct-from-the-farm milk.
posted by fancypants at 9:06 AM on July 18, 2006

"willing to travel a bit" - how about to the Loop?

All the downtown farmer's markets (& most neighborhood ones) feature local producers that boast organic/sustainable items. Why not go there and ask them if they produce animal products as well? They'll be able to tell you who retails them in the city even if they don't want to sell to you directly. And even if they are strictly veg, they'll be most likely point you to producers who do meat (sic) your needs.

Anchor page for all the city farmer's markets here.

Loop markets run on weekdays, neighborhood ones on weekends.
posted by Jos Bleau at 9:09 AM on July 18, 2006

The Wettstein Farm does great work. If you call them, they'll put you on a mailing list to let you know when and where they'll be selling their wares. (They're related to the other Wettstein Farm, but I'm not sure if they share a common mailing list.)

Also, I think there was talk of a Wettstein CSA, but I don't know if that's happening or not.
posted by j-dawg at 9:20 AM on July 18, 2006

Have you looked through the (many) Chicago -area listings at LocalHarvest? It has become the number one go-to site for local farms.
posted by ewagoner at 9:48 AM on July 18, 2006

Oberweis Dairy is local to Chicago, and products are available at the Oberweis stores, Fox & Obel, Whole Foods, Dominick's, and Jewel.
posted by MeetMegan at 5:31 PM on July 18, 2006

Timber Creek? They are the Peapod of organic food in Chicago, supposedly. Their farm is in Yorkville and they sell dairy, meat, veggies and fruit. I haven't tried them yet.
posted by jeanmari at 7:05 PM on July 21, 2006