From May through October, I visit the Green City Market in Lincoln Park almost every Saturday morning. There’s nothing else like it in Chicago, and in fact the venerable Alice Waters has called it “the best sustainable market in the country”.

There are over 30 producers who participate in the market and it’s practically impossible to try every single item, but I’ve put together a short list of my tried-and-true favorites:

- Blueberries from Paul Friday Farms. Although they’re known for their peaches, they have the best blueberries at the market, in my opinion. Even the tiniest berries are sweet and juicy and the biggest ones are never starchy.

- Sparkle strawberries from Nichols Farm. I’m one of those freaks who normally dislikes strawberries, but I’m addicted to these little suckers. They’re really small (averaging 3/4 inch) but this variety packs an intense burst of sweetness with just the right amount of tart. Of course, they’re only available during strawberry season — end of May through mid/end of June.

- Chevre from Capriole. If you’ve never enjoyed goat cheese, I beg you to try a log of their chevre. It’s so light yet rich and finishes with a fresh, lemony acidity. It has none of the heavy, gamy tang that turns off a lot of people from goat cheese. This year, these folks are at the market only every other Wednesday, but some of their cheeses (including the chevre) are available at Whole Foods and Fox & Obel.

- Eggs from Liberty Family Farm. The only way you’ll get fresher eggs is to buy yourself a hen. Crack one open and you’ll see — the yolks defy gravity. These make the best scrambled/poached/over easy/hard boiled eggs ever.

- Ground beef from Heartland Meats. Their beef comes from lean and flavorful Piedmontese cattle. Other cuts of meat are available such as brisket and different kinds of steak, but I like to grill a nice burger in the summer.