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Success: Big Bowl and
FamilyFarmed.org Go Local!
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FamilyFarmed.org is pleased to report on the success of its local procurement partnership with Big Bowl. The Asian concept restaurant has nine restaurants including four in the Chicago area, and is committed to purchasing sustainable, local food.
Big Bowl has been a sponsor of the Good Food Festival & Conference and after Big Bowl and other Lettuce Entertain You chef's cooked at FamilyFarmed.org's Autumn Harvest Supper at Heritage Prairie Farm, Big Bowl's chef Marc Bernard contracted with the farm to purchase 2 acres of produce for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Earlier this year, Bernard even purchased a neighboring farm where he is growing fruit and vegetables for the restaurants.
Building on this success, Big Bowl's local sourcing has skyrocketed to include large amounts of local produce, Niman Ranch Pork, and over 200 dozen pasture raised eggs a week from Little Farm on the Prairie in Illinois. "There's no discussion when you compare the flavor of a commerical egg with a pasture one - the one from the happy chicken tastes so much better," says Bernard. "A better tasting egg makes the dish taste even better." Eggs at Big Bowl are used in pad thai, fried rice, hot and sour soup and desserts. While classic Chinese egg dishes, such as steamed eggs or egg omlet with Chinese chives and oyster sauce may not be wildly popular at the restaurants, Bernard hopes to offer them as specials just so his guests can enjoy these eggs as the starring ingredient.
"Big Bowl is pleased to continue our partnership with FamilyFarmed.org on the Local Food Project to improve the supply chain for locally grown and responsibly produced food," says its president Danny McGowan. "You have been an excellent partner to help us increase our local food procurement and we look forward to building on this success in future years. We also hope that this relationship will provide new opportunities for other restaurants in the Lettuce Entertain You group. Local food is of interest to many of our operators at Lettuce. FamilyFarmed.org can play a key role in helping them to expand their sourcing."
Direct to restaurant sourcing is an exploding area of growth for local farmers, as restaurants of all sizes are beginning to recognize the importance of local food as customer awareness about their food increases. With funding from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, FamilyFarmed.org works with many restaurants and the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition to provide sourcing assistance that supports local family farmers and restaurants. These restaurant-farmer partnerships are an essential component of a robust local food system that provides the freshest product available at fair prices to farmers. If your restaurant is interested in free support to purchase local food, please contact james@familyfarmed.org.
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Grass Fed Beef Reduces Green House Gas Emissions
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A study of beef rearing operations in the UK has indicated that reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is possible with grass feeding. In conjunction with efficient management that incorporates innovative strategies at reducing emissions throughout the cow's lifecycle, carbon neutral beef production was attainable.
 While the study consisted of a small sample, it examined many approaches to raising beef, and included beef raised on cereal grains, grass, and grass combined with alternative feeds. The strongest reduction in emissions came when ranchers utilized alternative feeds, managed manure output, and raised specific breeds of cow. A key component of the study is the inclusion of carbon sequestration, which examines the amount of carbon absorbed by grasslands in pastured beef operations, and the importance that it provides in reducing of emissions. An analysis of US beef production was included in the study and provided similar conclusions to UK production. The study certainly doesn't end the debate about the benefits of grass fed beef, but it further illustrates that alternatives to intensive feedlot beef rearing can be effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Considering that the approaches described in the study did not include intense management of the land as we've seen some US farmers employ, it will be interesting to see how this effects emissions and beef production in the future. To read the study in its entirety, click here. |
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Impact Engine Offers Seed Capital for Entrepreneurs
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 Need capital and support for your business that's changing the world? Impact Engine is accepting applications for Impact 1. You'll receive $20K in seed capital, mentorship, cool workspace, access to hundreds of potential investors and the opportunity to build your business alongside a class of entrepreneurs that share your passion for positive impact. The Impact Engine is calling for great entrepreneurs getting ready to start or already running early stage for-profit organizations that positively impact today's societal and/or environmental challenges.
The Impact Engine is a 12-week venture accelerator designed to help socially and/or environmentally minded for-profit companies move to their next level. The first group of approximately 10 entrepreneurs, Impact 1, will be matched with experienced mentors, provided access to vetted legal and accounting professionals, given help in building their business models, assistance in landing early customers, ideas on growing their organizations, and access to hundreds of investors on Investor Day.
Chuck Templeton (founder of OpenTable) and Arun Sivashankaran (seasoned entrepreneur and technical guru) will be working with the Impact 1 companies on a day-to-day basis, helping them think about how to best grow their business. Chuck and Arun are surrounded by an experienced team with an extensive network that will maximize the reach that each company has. The goal is to increase the chances of success for the entrepreneurs and condense the timeline to market adoption for their organizations.
The Impact Engine is accepting applications for the first cohort of companies until June 30th, for a class that runs from September to December. For more details, please visit TheImpactEngine.com or you can contact Chuck Templeton at chuck@theimpactengine.com. There is an early application bonus so get your application in now!
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The
Good Food Festival & Conference
Wants You! |
FamilyFarmed.org is seeking community leaders, food advocates, and food lovers to participate in one of the Good Food Festival & Conference Advisory Committees.
The committees are essential to creating the event, and help plan it from the ground up. If you're interested and want to help plan and execute the event, let us know!
We're seeking people to help with the Saturday Festival, Financing Conference, Trade Show, Food Policy Summit, School Food, and Localicious Party. All skill levels and backgrounds are welcome.
As a thank you to our current and potential committee members, we're throwing a get-together on May 30. Come learn about the planning process and meet fellow good food advocates!
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Heritage Prairie Red, White & Bluegrass Festival
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Join the wonderful folks at Heritage Prairie Farm for their first Red, White, & Bluegrass Festival. Proceeds support the Farmer Veteran Coalition, which helps veterans returning from war start a career in agriculture.
With performances from local bands Cpt. Captain and Fox Valley Grass, a BBQ Buffet by Chef Jeremy, and rides and games for the kids, it's sure to be a spectacular evening for the entire family. Have a great time and support a great cause, attend the 2012 Red, White, & Bluegrass Festival this June! Red, White, & Bluegrass Festival June 9, 2012, 3 - 10pm Heritage Prairie Farm 2N308 Brundige Road
Elburn, Illinois 60119 Tickets: $20 |
| Chicago Area Job Opportunities |
FarmedHere i s looking for additional team members to start immediately.
They need:
Farmer/Driver
This position will help with harvesting and delivering product to local stores on a bi-weekly basis. A valid drivers license, knowledge of Chicago geography, and good communication skills are required.
Farmer
Help with planting, harvesting, and packaging of produce.
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