Meet the Midwestern farms supplying Chicago's restaurants

The highly seasonal menus at North Pond are executed with the help of a large number of farms that supply Bruce Sherman's restaurant, including Kinnikinnick Farm, which provides produce like baby arugula, breakfast tomatoes and purple tomatoes. Owners David and Susan Cleverdon started Kinnikinnick simply because their garden grew too big. Years later, the husband-and-wife team runs a property packed with produce and livestock. Farming is a passion for the Cleverdons, and they're keen to share it by offering farm stays for those interested in learning the tricks of the trade.

Kinnikinnick Farm: 21123 Grade School Rd, Caledonia, IL (815-292-3288)

For Big Jones chef and co-owner Paul Fehribach, using local and sustainable ingredients is key to the Southern cuisine his restaurant churns out. Fehribach believes in sustaining local economies rather than buying ingredients produced hundreds of miles away. Take the restaurant's dairy—it's provided by Kilgus Farmstead, about two hours southwest of the city, and can be found in the kitchen's grits and ridiculously creamy ice cream. Fehribach credits teh texture and taste to some special bovines: Kilgus has a herd of primarily Jersey cows, which produce milk of higher quality and stronger flavor than regular cows.

Kilgus Farmstead: 21471 E 670 North Rd, Fairbury, IL (815-692-6080)

"Can you hear the cows and sheep?" says Louis John Slagel of Slagel Family Farm. He's a true believer in his product. The family-owned fifth-generation farm supplies meat, including everything from bacon to lamb, to many Chicago restaurants such as Lula Cafe, where you can find its tender dry-aged beef on the menu. The farm lauds quality as a reason to eat local; from tenderness to marbling, a product doesn't maintain the same level of excellence after being shipped long distances.

Slagel Family Farm: 23601 E 600 North Rd, Fairbury, IL (815-848-9385)