Food to Market Challenge Offers $500,000 for Best Idea to Grow Chicago’s Good Food Supply

Many organizations and companies are working hard to untie knots in the supply chain for local and sustainable food in the Chicago area, the nation’s third most populous consumer market. Now the effort is getting a big boost from the Food to Market Challenge, a newly launched competition that will bestow a $500,000 award on the winning concept.

Farmer Gene Mealhow of Tiny But Mighty.

Whet Your Appetite for the Upcoming Good Food Festival & Conference

The schedule for this year’s 11th annual Festival & Conference, which takes place March 19-21 at the UIC Forum on the campus of University of Illinois at Chicago, has been released. We hope the details will whet your appetite for the event and persuade you to join this celebration of the fast-growing Good Food movement.

Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest President
Raj Karmani of Zero Percent (right) and Michael Bashaw of Whole Foods Market

FamilyFarmed’s Financing Fair Accepting Entrepreneur Applicants

To sustain and expand on that growth, though, entrepreneurs and investors must be able to connect and build businesses that expand the supply of Good Food products in local markets. That is the goal of FamilyFarmed’s annual Financing Fair, which is currently accepting applications from entrepreneurs who want to participate.

Mark Schneider of Living Waters Farms
Good Food Business Accelerator logo
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.

Accelerator Aims to Speed Good Food Growth

The Good Food movement needs more thriving farm and food businesses. Many farmers and entrepreneurs require help to develop the business skills and access to the resources they need to succeed. Enter FamilyFarmed.org’s new
Good Food Business Accelerator (GFBA), which aims to address those needs.

Tell Us About Your New Farmer Training Program

Consumer interest in Good Food is growing fast — so fast that it will be impossible to meet demand unless the supply of sustainably and locally produced food expands. One requirement for that expansion is assisting a new generation of young farmers to get established, and giving them the tools they need to succeed. If you are part of one or want to bring one to the world’s attention, please click the link and post a comment.