The Best Organic Food Shops In Chicago

If you’re looking to eat healthier and help the environment at the same time, consider adding more organic ingredients to your diet. Far from limiting, Chicago offers many options for organic food shopping outside national chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Check out this list of local city favorites and get your fruit and veg on.

1. Mariano’s

Shop, Store

Mariano’s has the impressive stature of a national chain but the familiar work ethic of a Midwestern business. Founded in suburban Arlington Heights in 2010, it’s now grown to 39 locations in Illinois. The stores are massive, spacious, airy and packed with everything in-season that you may need. They are first and foremost a fully-stocked grocery store with health and wellness as a focus, but it doesn’t stop there. Most locations are equipped with buffet-style hot food, including meat, soup, pizza, oysters, sandwiches, sushi, alcohol and more. Come in to shop or to just grab a tasty meal.

2. Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetables

Grocery Store, Greengrocer, Vegetarian, Vegan, Healthy

Stanley’s has been successfully supplying Chicago with healthy food just outside Goose Island since 1967. They offer fresh fruits and vegetables, regional dairy items, a fully stocked deli counter and large bags of their own house-branded potato chips that they make fresh in-store. Customers love their cheap prices, friendly vibes and ethical produce practices. They buy their fruit and veggies just before ripening which keeps them super inexpensive. But it also means they tend to go bad quicker than other chain stores, so only buy what you can eat within a few days.

3. Olivia’s Market

Market, Farmers' Market, Grocery Store, Vegan, Vegetarian, American

Olivia’s Market has an upscale air that makes your everyday tomato run feel like a study in sophisticated chic, and customers eat it up. Since opening in the Bucktown area in 2004, Olivia’s has attracted locals and citywide residents alike. Expect a clean space, sleek lighting and lots of wood accents. Come for the quality, organic produce but definitely stay for their obscure collection of craft beer.

5. Plum Market

Grocery Store, Greengrocer, Vegetarian, Vegan, Healthy, Gluten-free

Plum Market is a small chain out of Michigan that’s expanded to Chicago. Their Old Town location is in one of the city’s trendiest spots and attracts a lot of customers dropping in to enjoy their salad bar and hot food buffet – but they are known for their organic options and overall healthy food atmosphere. Many have luck finding specialty items here that aren’t carried in Chicago’s major grocery chains, making it worth the visit and the hunt.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.