Local Food: On the Menu in Chicago's Public Schools |
It's fall harvest time
and Chicago Public School (CPS) children have been enjoying local peaches and
plums straight from Michigan farms. Chartwells Thompson Hospitality provides
meals to over 300,000 students every day at CPS. FamilyFarmed.org partnered with the foodservice provider to
connect them with local farmers. The work is now paying dividends as the
district has committed to purchasing potatoes, apples, pears, peaches, and
plums from Michigan and Wisconsin farmers. 
"FamilyFarmed.org has
been integral for us to develop relationships with local growers," says Bob
Bloomer, Regional Vice President of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality. "Our high
volume purchasing is going to benefit regional farmers, distributors, and
communities. In turn, school children in Chicago will benefit from having the
freshest local food on their table." As an example, Bloomer estimates that the
district will purchase over a half million pounds of Michigan apples this year.
They are also exploring the purchase of Illinois potatoes.
Chartwells Thompson
Hospitality has also developed a frozen local program. At harvest time, they
purchase regionally produced fruit and vegetables, flash freeze them within 24
hours of the harvest, and then store the frozen produce for use during the
school season. "This is a great way to lock in the nutrients of these fruits
and vegetables," says Bloomer. "We will be purchasing thousands of pounds of
these products this school year. The kids love it."
For more information about
Chartwells Thompson Hospitality please contact Bob Bloomer.
FamilyFarmed.org extends gratitude to the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Lumpkin Family
Foundation, The Liberty Prairie Foundation, and the Goodman Family Foundation for supporting this work.
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Deeply Rooted
a Book Review
by guest writer Keighty Ward
 Rarely when we think of where our food comes from do we think of the actual farmer, a person with a life and a family and hobbies. Through Deeply Rooted: Unconventional Farmers in the Age of Agribusiness, Lisa Hamilton uncovers the stories of individual farmers that are working against the grain to produce the best products they can with the help of their family in a time where the little farms are so often forgotten.
A truly refreshing read, Hamilton's in depth look into the lives of three unconventional farmers struggling to make it gives me hope for the future of agriculture in this country. |
| Read the full review here
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 Be a part of the biggest vegan party Chicago has ever seen!
Chicago
has a vibrant and exciting vegan community. And now we're taking the
opportunity to really show it off. EarthSave Chicago presents Chicago
VeganMania: a joyous celebration of Chicago's vegan culture, commerce,
community, and cuisine.
Chicago
VeganMania gives you a chance to sample great vegan food from a dozen different
restaurants, watch a wide array of live music and dance, attend workshops and
presentations from some of the nation's leading vegan thinkers and doers, see
the latest vegan fashion and the best vegan products and crafts, catch a vegan
art show, learn Chicago's hidden vegetarian history, watch (or join) a
spectacular children's procession, and so much more!
It's all
here, and admission is free! Plus visitors will receive five free "Grub Stub"
tickets redeemable at any food booth just for walking in the door. And come
early - the first 100 people (age 16 & over) to show up will get a free
swag bag loaded with wonderful vegan products.
Saturday, October 10. 2009
10am-4pm
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse
1419 W. Blackhawk
Chicago
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FEATURED PRODUCER1st Orchards and Greenhouses Dowagiac, MI
The First family farm is truly a family business - it's
going on four generations! Over 50 years ago, Harold and Karen First founded
1st Orchards and Greenhouses. Their son John and granddaughter Alicia also work
on the farm. Five years ago, Alicia's husband, Brian Stout, joined the family
business. Brian oversees the farm's 250 chickens and helps with 600-acres of
produce, including the certified organic apples. Brian and Alicia have three
boys, Ethan, Eli and Parker, all of who help on the farm by collecting eggs
from the chickens.
The First family practices sustainability with their produce
and treat their chickens with respect.
You can find their produce and eggs at Chicago's Green City Market and The Federal Plaza Farmers Market as well as the Evanston, Wilmette
and Glenview Farmers Markets.
In addition, their products can be found at Japonais, Terragusta, and Oceanic restaurants. Finally, give them a call to find out more about visiting their fruit stand at the farm!
What is your growing
philosophy?
Support the environment and the environment will support
you.
What is your favorite
part about being a farmer?
Being able to produce a product and then sell it at a
farmers market DIRECTLY to the customer.
Why did you choose to
be organic?
For our children's sake we need to use environmentally
friendly methods to protect the environment so they will have farms down the
road.
What makes your farm
special?
It is truly a family farm and we specialize in heirloom
varieties.
Where do you want your
farm to be in the next five years?
Blossoming! Working toward being more organic.
For more information about 1st Orchards and
Greenhouses call 269.782.5253 or email them.
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FARM TO FORK:
an agricultural primer
for foodies
Presented by the American Institute of Wine and Food and the Chicago Botanic Garden
Saturday October 3rd �
9:00 am-5:00 pm
at the Chicago Botanic Garden
How we eat influences how we live. And now, more than ever, how we eat
is in the news and up for discussion. This unique, day-long symposium
features a line-up of engaging speakers from across the country who are
renowned experts in nutrition, the environment, legislation, economics
and rural development. They will explore the factors influencing our
food systems, the history that brought us to the choices we face today
and where we go tomorrow.
Join us. It will definitely be food for thought.
With:
Bill Kurtis, president of Kurtis Productions and founder of Tallgrass Beef
Ann Wright, Deputy Under Secretary,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Sandra Batie, Elton R. Smith Professor in Food and Agricultural Policy,
Michigan State University
Richard Manning, award-winning environmental author and journalist
Chuck Hassebrook, Executive Director Center for Rural Affairs
Neil Levin, NOW Foods
Gale Gand, Tru Restaurant
and
Bruce Sherman, North Pond Restaurant
Learn more and register HERE.
Visit the American Institute of Wine and Food HERE.
Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden HERE.
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Join FamilyFarmed.org for professional development workshops presented by Paul Pitchford, author of the book:
Healing with Whole Foods
"Whole foods are now heralded by leading nutritional authorities as the
most effective dietary approach.
This intensive course-with two additional trainings this year-includes
in-depth diagnostic methods that assist you in making custom nutrition
and lifestyle plans. You will be shown how to recognize imbalance and
restore harmony, using the principles and information in Paul
Pitchford's classic text, Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions
and Modern Nutrition."
 October 24th and 25th at the Holiday Inn O'Hare,
5615 Cumberland, Chicago. Parking is free.7 NCCAOM PDA and IL CEU's
will be awarded for each day attended.
This event is
appropriate for acupuncturists, dietitians, nutritionists, doctors, nurses,
chiropractors, and general public.
Click here for more information and to register. |
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Ready to volunteer?
Visit with FamilyFarmed.org and other great Chicago non-profits who are currently recruiting volunteers at the
Yelp Community
"Causes for a Party!"
Yelp
Chicago (and Chicagoland) have cooked up a complimentary (yes,
admission is free, but keep the purpose in mind!) event that brings
together YOU and some stellar Chicago non-profits in need of support
and volunteers.
Join us on Thursday October 15th from
530pm-8pm at the beautiful atrium at Pazzo's (311 S Wacker Drive), for
an evening of networking, connecting, good spirit and goodwill. Chat
with non-profits that NEED YOU! Mix with like-minded peeps, and enjoy a
night we can all get on board with: Yelp.Community, Causes for a Party!In true Yelp fashion, we've got some great stuff lined up (besides the obvious!). Shutterbooth.com
will be snap snappin' those fab photobooth pics, Victoria Sprung
(Sprung Photo) and Jen Soares (Jennifer Soares Photography) will catch
you all candid-style, Cage & Aquarium Productions will be spinnin'
the tunes, and Pazzo's will be displaying their finest fare...in their
most beautiful Loop venue.
Oh, and of course we'll have some
complimentary cocktails courtesy of our organic friends over at Rain
Vodka...so don't fret! But, the real reason for this shindig: matching
YOU up with your ideal non-profit in an effort to spread the love, the
time and the energy to our great city: Chicago. RSVP is required, please click here for more info and to RSVP.
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