Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread
The boom in farmers markets

First Person: How Farmers Markets Help Producers Scale Up for Success

by Pat Stieren, guest contributor Pat Stieren is executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association (IFMA), which is presenting a conference on Saturday, March 21 at the UIC Forum on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. The event coincides with FamilyFarmed‘s Good Food Festival at the same location. To purchase tickets to attend the Read more about First Person: How Farmers Markets Help Producers Scale Up for Success[…]

Local Foods Chicago retail store
Rob Levitt of Chicago's The Butcher & Larder

Chicago Butcher Rob Levitt on the Meaning of Good Meat and His Local Foods Move

Rob Levitt established himself as a major figure on Chicago’s food scene when he and his wife Allie opened The Butcher & Larder meat shop four years ago. Here Rob Levitt discusses his somewhat unexpected career as a butcher and his hopes for bigger things with his upcoming move, expected this spring, into a larger space in the new Local Foods retail store.

Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread
Shedd Aquarium Right Bite card January 2015
The Dill Pickle Co-op of Chicago.

First Person: Cooperation Underscored in Chicagoland Food Co-op Coalition

While there has long been robust interest in food co-ops in a number of communities across the United States, Chicago has lagged a bit behind. But change is under way. Over the past couple of years, there’s been an explosion of interest in retail food co-ops in the metro Chicago area, which in turn has spawned the Chicagoland Co-op Coalition.

Raj Karmani of Zero Percent (right) and Michael Bashaw of Whole Foods Market
dailyServing's functional food products

First Person: Top Chicago Butcher Envisions New Heights in Move to Local Foods Store

Rob Levitt of The Butcher & Larder began his culinary career with the aim of becoming a top chef. But he developed an expertise in charcuterie that ultimately piqued his interest in the art of butchery, and four years ago, he and wife Allie opened the Butcher & Larder and quickly developed it into one of Chicago’s favored spots among meat lovers. Now they are preparing for a big step up.

Mark Schulman, president of Eli's Cheesecake

Eli’s Cheesecake is Sweet on the Good Food Movement in Chicago

Eli’s Cheesecake has been serving up its sweet treats in Chicago for decades. As a local artisan producer that uses as many locally produced ingredients as possible, Eli’s has a prominent place at the Good Food movement’s dessert table. But the company’s commitment to expanding economic opportunity and social welfare through food is much broader than that.

Good Food Accelerator
Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest President
Sarah Katz

First Person: How Your Food Business Can Nourish Its Bottom Line Over the Holidays

Opportunity awaits you if you own a food-related business if you’re prepared to compete in the crowded holiday marketplace. If you want to have a successful holiday season, now’s the time to get started! Here are some tips.

Chicago Event Highlights Scrumptious Pantry’s ‘Eat It to Save It” Approach to Heirlooms

Lee Greene of Chicago’s Scrumptious Pantry is among the food artisans across the nation who are using and drawing attention to heirloom ingredients that — to the detriment of diners — had largely faded from public consciousness.

McDonald's restaurant on Clark Street in Chicago, across the street from Wrigley Field

McDonald’s Can Make History — and Rescue its Brand — With Sustainable Food

McDonald’s Golden Arches are tarnished these days. To restore the shine, it’s time for the fast-food behemoth to chart a new course: one that acknowledges the growing consumer demand for Good Food, grown as close to home as possible, by sustainable, humane, and fair producers.

How to Stretch Your Farmers Market Dollars

There is one factor that stands out as an inhibition for some people — the perception that shopping at farmers markets is too expensive. But I ventured out this weekend to collect evidence that it ain’t necessarily so.

Whole Foods Market in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood

Strategic Partnership with Whole Foods Puts More Local Food on Shelves

Can you find local food on your grocery store shelves? The answer to that question is increasingly “yes” … and FamilyFarmed.org is playing an important role in making that happen — including its work to connect Whole Foods Market with local and regional growers.

The boom in farmers markets

Farmers Market Benefits Include Bargains — Tell Us Yours

New York Times food journalist Mark Bittman notes that there are great bargains to be had at farmers markets. Have you found some? Share them in the comments section of this post!

Chicago Market logo

First Person: Building a food co-op — and positive change — in Chicago

by Grant Kessler, FamilyFarmed.org Grant Kessler is a food photographer and local food marketing consultant in Chicago who serves as marketing director for FamilyFarmed.org’s annual Good Food Festival and Conference. He also is a member of the team that is developing Chicago Market, a food co-op rooted in the principles of the Good Food movement. Read more about First Person: Building a food co-op — and positive change — in Chicago[…]