Keep It Fresh

It's easy to fall into a rut a few months into market season.

This week, diversify: Skip your usual stalls in favor of these four new farmers' markets, two within city lines and two farther afield.

Lincoln Square's new Thursday-night market is a produce- and carbohydrate-heavy follow-up to its Tuesday daytime market. Get baguettes and pizza from D.O.C. and challah loaves from Breadman, plus sweets from Marilyn's and Angel Food. Free concerts in the adjacent plaza start at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.; corner of Leland and Lincoln aves.

Forest Park debuts this year as the Chicago area's lone Friday market. But it has plenty to stock your weekend: fruit from Hardin's Family Farm, meat from Jake's, Co-op hot sauce, Salted Caramel bacon-bourbon popcorn, and even knife sharpening. Every other Friday, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. (next market: July 30); 7640 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

After a monthly trial run last year, Bridgeport now has a small but consistent Saturday market, with local produce, honey, flowers, Brunkow cheese and Tomato Mountain salsas. Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; corner of 35th and Wallace sts.

Morton Grove's new market is flush with local baked goods (from Maier's Bakery), meat from Benhart Farms, and produce from Illinois and Michigan, including Tibet Farms, which specializes in vegetables found in Korean and Chinese cuisines. Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; 8930 Waukegan Rd., Morton Grove