Plans and progress
This is the 11th season for Green City Market, the city's only sustainable green market, and 501(c)(3) organization. A proactive venue with over 45 sustainable or certified organic farmers and thousands of shoppers, Green City Market features chef cooking demos, the "Sprouts" educational program for kids, "Breakfast Club" discussions about the link between well-being & good nutrition, a membership base that funds our outreach and educational initiatives, a dedicated staff of volunteers, an inviting ambiance, a sense of community and much more. Green City Market has formed a partnerhip with the Zoo to plant the Edible Garden in Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm-in-the Zoo sponsored by John Deere. From that first year in 1999 next to the Chicago Theatre to the present time, Green City Market has morphed into a vital "green" Market at the south end of Lincoln Park that Alice Waters calls "the best sustainable market in the country".
The Market's incredible momentum comes from its broad base of support from conscientious and caring consumers, chefs, restaurateurs and other culinary professionals. It also reflects Chicagoans' increasing concern for a more sustainable food system...improving the quality of food on our table produced by local farmers using organic and sustainable practices that preserves the environment for future generations. Green City Market's support of these local artisanal farmers and producers increases the density of fresh, high-quality, locally produced food in Chicago, and provides the basis for a regional cuisine.
Green City Market's success as the only sustainable "green" market in the city has lead to a partnership with the City of Chicago's Mayor's Office of Special Events to esablish the required infrastructure for a more sustainable local food system. No other organizations in the Midwestern region are working toward the specific goal of finding small family farmers in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin, connecting them to appropriate local resources and grooming them to sell in Chicago.
For this purpose, GCM and MOSE are funding a "farm forager" to assess, find and support sustainable farmers, increasing the fresh locally-produced foods coming into the city which will benefit all Chicago, including any satellite markets, schools, hospitals and other institutions. This innovative partnership presented the first annual 2006 Farmer Workshop in February for 175 attending farmers to help them be more successful in the Chicago marketplace. MOSE's and CGCM's commitment to farmer sustainability and this focus on strengthening the broad farmers' market system will build the infrastructure that's needed to increase the diversity and amount of locally produced food coming into the city of Chicago and the region.
We have Mayor Daley's blessing and support…now we need yours. We welcome your tax-deductible contribution. Please make out a check to Green City Market and send to:
Green City Market
2732 N Clark, Suite 302
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 880-1266
Attn: Administrative Director
Sincerely,
Lyle Allen
Executive Director
Green City Market