Chicago Market's Fair Trade Ties
Learn about its Fair Trade partners and themed tour on March 30
Chicago Market’s long journey toward opening its cooperative grocery store in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood started more than a decade ago, and the best estimate is that the grand opening will take place early next year.
That isn’t stopping General Manager Dan Arnett and the market team from establishing product sourcing guidelines that follow the Good Food values of a healthier, more sustainable, more humane and fairer food system.
One major example is that the market is already partnering with two companies that follow Fair Trade principles in sourcing their ingredients: Metropolis Coffee Roasters, which is based in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood, and Divine Chocolate, based in New York City and London.
It is no surprise that Dan would prioritize Fair Trade. He is, in fact, the board chairman of the non-profit Fairtrade America, which is participating in the Chicago Fair Trade organization’s annual Globalfest fundraising dinner. The event takes place on the evening of Saturday, February 24 at the Newberry Library in downtown Chicago; click here for more information and tickets.
I asked Dan for his definition of Fair Trade. “The first thing is to note that it's very specifically rooted in trying to craft a systemic response to a history of exploitation through trade,” he said. “Generally, former colonial territories have endured histories of racism and systemic poverty because of power imbalances and trade systems. Our focus is to help the farmers that have been unfairly disadvantaged through trade to have more power, more voice and more benefit for the hard work.”
Dan added that Fairtrade America provides product certifications that contain “a whole series of environmental standards and social standards that are required for Fairtrade international certification,” including a floor price to be paid to farmers so they do not lose their livelihoods in the event of a catastrophic market collapse.
Chicago Market, like most food cooperatives, will be focused on sourcing as locally as possible for the products that will go on their shelves. But these co-ops also seek to be full-service, one-stop-shops for customers, and that means applying ethical principles to products that do not originate in the local region — such as coffee and chocolate.
Chicago Market’s relationship with Metropolis Coffee Roasters is a win-win, since it is a locally based company. Dan noted that Tony Dreyfuss, who founded the company with his father in 2003, has been working with the store on a pro bono basis to create the espresso and brewed coffee programs its customers will enjoy when the store opens.
Dan described Metropolis as the biggest Fair Trade coffee roaster in the Midwest, stating that the company’s commitments on the environment, social issues, and Fair Trade “all align really well with us.”
As for Divine, Dan said, “I've been a fan of them for some time because they have a much more direct and meaningful connection with her cocoa producers,” particularly with a farmer co-op in Ghana from which they source. Dan said he toured a Divine factory in Germany and found it to be “the most meticulous sweets manufacturer I've ever interacted with,” with a commitment to quality that goes back generations.
Turning to Fairtrade America’s participation in Chicago Fair Trade’s Globalfest on February 24, Dan had high praise for the city’s commitment to the cause. He said, “I can't emphasize enough it is, to me, the cream of the crop,” noting that Chicago Fair Trade runs the world's first and only Fair Trade Museum.
Chicago Market Sneak Preview
As for when Chicago Market’s long-awaited opening will occur, Dan said March 2025 appears a likely target, maybe a little sooner if everything goes well.
As has been the case for other food co-op projects nearing completion around the Chicago region, Chicago Market has faced a tough climb. (Note: I have been an owner-member for more than 10 years.) Raising the necessary funds is challenging in Illinois, where a law enacted in 1915 sharply limits the amount of shares that can be owned by an individual. Finding the right site for the market can be a years-long process.
The site that Chicago Market selected, the century-old, low-rise Gerber Building below to the Wilson CTA Red Line platform, will be a jewel when the buildout is completed, but it has faced some major issues involving major renovations, its location under the El tracks, and — according to Dan — some epic adventures with government regulators.
“When you take a historic landmark property owned by the CTA and that's considered a potential soft target by Homeland Security, and you can see the number of agencies and bureaucracies that are involved, it's more complex than anything I've ever seen in in my industry,” Dan said. “It will be worth it, but it’s a much harder nut to crack than any other site I've ever seen."
Nonetheless, to whet the appetites of potential customers — and recruit some more owner-members — Chicago Market has scheduled an open house with a Fair Trade focus at the Gerber Building, to take place on Saturday, March 30 starting at 4 p.m. The event will include a tour of the building, plus snacks and beverages. Click the button below to learn more and register.
Also, while we await the opening of the store, Chicago Market will be staging the fourth season of its outdoor Uptown Farmers Market, which will be held on Wednesdays beginning May 1.
During its first two years, Uptown Farmers Market was held at the Gerber Building, somewhat tucked away in the shadows of the elevated train tracks. Starting in 2023, the Market was moved a few blocks away to a pedestrian mall on Sunnyside Ave., between Beacon St. and Magnolia Ave. The open, sunny, tree-lined location provides a much more ambient experience for farmers market visitors.
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
We only have another month or so before these sunset move to the north side of our building, so I’m going to ride with it while it last.