The Illinois chalkboard
What's in season in Illinois
The whole year on one board — hatched chalk for the early and late shoulders, solid for peak. The dashed line is today, drawn by your browser.
Southern Illinois runs about two weeks ahead of Chicagoland.
Build the Illinois market menu
Pick any month and get the shopping list version of this board, grouped for the stalls.
Time a u-pick trip
Crop by crop picking windows for Illinois, with the call-ahead honesty built in.
Frequently asked questions
What's in season right now in Illinois?
It changes week to week — the "at peak now" strip above reads today's date, so it never goes stale. For the classics: strawberries peak early June through mid-June; sweet corn peak mid-July through mid-August; apples peak early September through late September.
When does the market season start in Illinois?
The first local crops (asparagus) show up around mid-April, and the boards fill from there.
Where can I go u-pick in Illinois?
We chart timing, not farm listings — but the u-pick planner will tell you when any crop is worth the drive in Illinois, and any search for "u-pick near me" works better once you know the week to aim for.