FamilyFarmed Pavilion at
Chicago Green Festival 2012 |
 May 5-6, 2012
Chicago, Navy Pier
Join FamilyFarmed.org Pavilion at the Chicago Green Festival 2012! We're excited to announce the return of the FamilyFarmed.org Pavilion, highlighting many local farmers and food businesses. Chicago Botanic Garden Since the 1890's, the Chicago Botanic Garden's mission has been "to promote the enjoyment, understanding and enjoyment of plants in the natural world." To achieve this mission, they have created and maintained one of the finest public teaching gardens in the country. Esther's Place Fibers Every inch of Esther's Place in Galena, IL is devoted to natural fiber arts. The first floor of their 1895 home has a retail store selling raw wool from local Illinois flocks, home dyed and sustainably farmed, and fiber spun into yarn, woven into cloth and hand worked into beautiful gifts. Abbey Brown Soap Artisan Abbey Brown Soap produces a wide variety of products for the body, the home, and aromatherapy. Using only cold pressed olive oils infused with locally grown organic herbs and botanicals, their shop in the West Loop of Chicago features products hand crafted daily. Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks If you need fresh, organic food year round that you can order online and have delivered to your door, check out Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks. Convenient, economical and tailored to your needs and lifestyle, Irv & Shelly's takes all the hassle out of eating clean, fresh and local. King's Hill FarmKings Hill Farm was originally created as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Since the Kellums arrival in 2008 Kings Hill Farm can guarantee its members and customers that all of their produce and products are grown or collected right here on Kings Hill Farmland. LocalFolks Foods LocalFolks Foods produces a line of sauces, condiments and pasta, which you can enjoy knowing it is good for you and the environment. Using only locally, sustainably grown heirloom ingredients without corn syrup artificial ingredients, their products support local farms and celebrate the rich harvest available in our area. Tomato MountainTomato Mountain Farm is nestled in the foothills of Brooklyn, Wisconsin. Transitioned from conventional corn and soybean agriculture, its 12 acres produce quality, certified organic fruit and vegetables with tomatoes occupying center stage. Tomato Mountain Farm also produces its own line of homemade salsas, preserves, soups, and other jarred products such as pasta sauce and bloody mary mix.
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FamilyFarmed.org Helps
Restaurants Source Local Food
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 Are you a farmer interested in selling direct to restaurants? If you'd like to be included in our recommendations to restaurants, please let us know. We're looking for diverse products, so please contact us about your interest and what products you offer!
FamilyFarmed.org is excited to announce a new pilot program in collaboration with GCRC to increase procurement of locally grown and sustainably raised meat and produce. FamilyFarmed.org has been working to improve local food systems for ten years, by building the supply of locally grown and sustainably raised food and working with wholesale buyers and distributors to efficiently transport product to wholesale customers.
The Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition (GCRC) is committed to providing professional procurement services to support members as they increase their use of local and sustainable products. In recent years, the Coalition has set up procurement systems to provide members with environmentally preferable products at a cost-competitive price.
This collaboration will help restaurants and foodservice companies source local/regional meat, produce, dairy, poultry, eggs, and specialty products. To simplify the process FamilyFarmed.org will help restaurants work with existing distributors or recommend new distributors depending on specific needs.
It's an easy process. Here's what you need to do:
1. Reach out to James Pirovano at FamilyFarmed.org either through email or at 708-763-9920.
2. Have a conversation with James about your needs. This can include the type of products you wish to purchase from local sources.
3. FamilyFarmed.org will develop a set of recommendations for you based on types and quantities of products you desire, and taking into consideration your current set of relationships with distributors and other vendors.
4. We will provide ongoing support to help you implement this program in growing season 2012.
This collaboration offers GCRC members the opportunity to connect with local growers to increase procurement of locally grown and sustainably raised food.
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National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
|  The 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! is just a few months away.
Representatives from all sectors of Farm to Cafeteria will convene in beautiful Burlington, Vermont August 2-5 for four days of education, conversations and fun. There will be skill-building short courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network with inspiring individuals from across the country.
Registration opens May 7, check out the website for more information about the event!
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Volunteer with FamilyFarmed.org!
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FamilyFarmed.org seeks volunteers for Green Festival 2012! If you're interested in learning more about FamilyFarmed.org and helping us to spread the word on Good Food, this is a perfect opportunity! Shifts are available May 5 & 6 from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Three hour shifts are preferred. Volunteers get free admittance to Green Festivals for themselves and a guest. If you're interested, please email volunteer@familyfarmed.org with your name, desired shift time, and phone number. |
Social Media Workshops for Farmers and Food Businesses
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Wondering how to use Twitter and Facebook to better promote your business? Not sure where to start, how to use the tools or what the best strategies are?
Join Grant Kessler and Cleetus Friedman to get inspired about these terrific tools!
Plug in to any or all of their four part workshop series depending on your skills and interests. In depth descriptions can be found, here.
These are hands-on sessions that will guide you step by step through social media.
Grant Kessler uses social media to promote his own photography business and blog site, MyFoodshed, and has experience managing multiple social media accounts for FamilyFarmed.org and the Good Food Festivals, driving ticket sales, promoting events and keeping followers updated on food news and policy info. He has also done social media consulting for Harvest Moon Organic Farm, Food Patriots and others.
Cleetus Friedman is chef and owner of City Provisions Delicatessen & Catering company in Ravenswood. Cleetus promotes his business with a comprehensive social media strategy on Twitter and Facebook.
Sessions take place at City Provisions on Monday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm.
1818 W. Wilson, Chicago, IL 60640
Session One - April 30
Session Two - May 14
Session Three - June 25
Session Four - July 30
Cost is $50/person and includes a light meal. There is a 20% discount if you register for all four sessions at once.
Advance registration required- email Noelle at City Provisions to reserve a space: Noelle.
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NW Illinois Gains Kitchen Incubator to Build Local Economy
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More than a year ago the Greater Sterling Development Corporation (GSDC) Board of Directors began considering a new concept in job creation and entrepreneurship.
Kitchen incubators are a simple model that can build local economies. Budding food entrepreneurs pay the incubator a small hourly fee to rent the space on an as needed basis and often have access to produce from local farmers.
After lengthy planning and research into the project, the GSDC has announced the creation of The Kitchen Incubator of NW Illinois located within the Sterling Small Business and Technology Center. This has been a collaboration of the GSDC, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sterling.
They are eager to work with NW Illinoisans to create the next generation of entrepreneurs. The kitchen will be open beginning May 2012. Keep a look out for information on open houses, press releases and pictures!
For more information or to schedule a time slot at the kitchen incubator, call Heather Sotelo at 815-625-5255 or email at hsotelo@sterlingdevelopment.org.
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