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Future of Food Conference
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Last month, a few hundred people gathered in Washington DC for the Future of Food Conference. The keynote address was given by Prince Charles, just a few days after the wedding of his son, William. "The Prince's speech was internationally significant," said Jim Slama, FamilyFarmed.org President and conference attendee. "In it, he laid out a strong case for a widespread shift in our agricultural system to more sustainable methods of producing food." Other conference speakers included author Wendell Berry, farmer Will Allen, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Senator Jon Tester, Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg, White House Chef Sam Kass, Fedele Bauccio CEO of Bon Appetit Management Co., and many other Good Food leaders. Full coverage of the conference can be found at the Washington Post's Future of Food website, the conference sponsor. |
Building for Growth - Supporting Illinois Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs
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FamilyFarmed.org, in partnership with Central Illinois stakeholders, is excited to announce our new Building for Growth project. The project encourages and supports infrastructure development in Illinois to help fruit and vegetable growers as well as artisan food producers to expand their business and increase their revenue. A primary goal of the project is to create a packing house and community kitchen resource planning guide for use by stakeholders throughout Illinois, including growers, regional planners, and entrepreneurs.
As part of our research, we are conducting two feasibility studies for community kitchens, one in Tazewell County and one in Cook County. A community kitchen can go a long way toward alleviating some of the barriers growers and food artisans face when attempting to build or expand their business with value-added products. It can also serve as economic development catalyst for the community, employees, and stakeholders engaged in business there.
At this stage in our research, we're distributing a survey to those who might potentially benefit from such a facility in Tazewell County to gauge their interest in the concept.
Know of someone that might be interested? Please forward this along!
Are you a produce grower or food entrepreneur in the greater Peoria area?
Please click here to take the survey online.
Click here for a PDF version of the survey.
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Chicago Ideas Week - Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship
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 To celebrate the amazing work done by young innovators, Chicago Ideas Week will host the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship. Awarded to five socially conscious leaders that work to address critical social needs, the fellowship will provide exposure to nationally recognized business and community leaders. Fellows will also have the chance to network with influential leaders, including prospective funders, during private events. In addition, fellowship recipients will receive $10,000 to support their venture.
FamilyFarmed.org is excited to showcase this opportunity for young entrepreneurs, especially those that have contributed to the Good Food Movement. Chicago is fortunate to have countless individuals that work tirelessly to increase access to locally grown, sustainable food. This fellowship is a perfect opportunity for our innovators to share their projects and enthusiasm for Good Food, and how this movement is making our bodies, our city, and our planet healthy and vibrant.
For more information, visit the Chicago Ideas Week website, here.
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Real Time Farms
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Real Time Farms has released an online farm sourcing tool to help consumers eat and buy local. The best part? Consumers help create it through Real Time Farms' innovative crowd sourcing strategy.
The tool doesn't just inform consumers, it actively engages them to identify local food sources. It lists farms, farmers markets, and restaurants that source locally to making eating local, sustainable food not only easy but incredibly fun!
FamilyFarmed.org is excited to see how Real Time Farms evolves, and we hope you participate.
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FamilyFarmed.org Internship Opportunities
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Applicants should be passionate about the Good Food Movement, highly organized, and creative self starters.
Marketing Internship
Good Food Festival Internship
Applications will be reviewed as they're received, so apply today!
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Wrap What You Love a Huge Success
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 This past month, FamilyFarmed.org and Chipotle Mexican Grill forged an exciting fundraising partnership culminating in the
Wrap What You Love
campaign.
The contest pitted Chipotle fans against each other to help support their common passion for good food, while also having the chance to win fantastic prizes. Contestants, including FamilyFarmed.org's President Jim Slama, literally wrapped items they love in foil and submitted them for judging.
Over 1,300 people submitted their loved items, and 96,095 votes were cast, with each vote contributing $1 to FamilyFarmed.org. The entries ran the gamut and included such notables as the Burrit-ROW and the winner of the contest, 4 Day Old Burrito.
Not only did this amazing contest raise over $96,000 to support FamilyFarmed.org's mission to expand locally grown and responsibly produced food, it was fun and exciting, which is exactly what we think food should be.
The partnership is yet another example of Chipotle's dedication to Food With Integrity, a commitment to serve naturally raised meat and dairy and locally sourced produce that supports family farmers. This approach to business, food, and the environment aligns closely with FamilyFarmed.org's founding principals. It's simply the way food should be.
FamilyFarmed.org is thrilled to have joined forces with Chipotle Mexican Grill in support of Good Food, and we look forward to continue this partnership in the future. Keep an eye out for exciting announcements!
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