The Food and Ag Capital of the U.S. is...
As Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at the Dom's store opening, it's Chicago
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We do things big in Chicago… including cheesecake. Eli’s Cheesecake whipped up this number for the grand opening of Dom’s Kitchen & Market’s new store in the city’s Old Town neighborhood. Being of endless curiosity, I threw out the question on social media about what this mega-cheesecake weighed, and the folks at Eli’s responded.
The answer is: 200 pounds.
So you’re welcome. You’ve now seen what a 200-pound cheesecake looks like. We do do things big in Chicago.
Food is in Chicago’s DNA and It Helps Us Grow
It’s what most of us in this region’s food space believe, and it’s what Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (above) said out loud yesterday at the grand opening for the new Dom’s Kitchen & Market store: “We have really become the food and agriculture capital of the United States.”
She continued, “We have companies that are international brands, like Mondelēz, like Kellogg. But we’ve also got smart, innovative startups, and the amount of resources that are available for these businesses to launch and be able to sustain is really off the charts…. I want to make sure that people know that our food innovation companies raised over $723 million in venture capital in 2021.”
I like to say that food is in Chicago’s DNA. It is the reason for the very existence of this city, which blossomed because its strategic location at the base of the Great Lakes and as an early railroad hub made it the nexus for the great Midwestern agricultural. “breadbasket.”
Echoing what the mayor said, I believe that the food and farming industries are a key driver, if not the key driver, for our region’s economic growth, and as a local food advocate, I am proud that much of the energy today comes from companies and producers that are committed to building a better-for-people, better-for-the-planet food system.
And it is why I wholeheartedly believe that food, with its power to drive economic development and recovery, must be a major part of the solution to the problems of our historically underserved communities.
I know a lot of the people who subscribe to Local Food Forum and the metrics tell me that many of you read it often, despite a pace of publication that some folks warned early on was excessive. So I suspect that I’m pretty much preaching to the choir here.
But change is slow and, despite progress, we have a long way to go in building the healthier, more sustainable and more humane food system that this country needs. I first said years ago that we can advocate until we’re blue in the face, but nothing will accelerate change faster than consumers increasingly demanding better. So please keep voting with your dollars, persuade those you know who are persuadable, and support our local farmers, without whom none of this would exist.
There are a few more pithy quotes below from the Dom’s opening, but first, some outreach from folks who are working every day to make better possible.
Regenerative Livestock Farm Seeks Manager
Wanda Farm is a regenerative livestock farming operation in Harvard, Illinois (about 75 miles northwest of Chicago) that was started by a young family in 2018. The farm is in the process of hiring a production manager to fulfill an ambitious agenda for growth, and Joe Wanda — who owns and is developing the farm with his wife Hannah — reached out to ask if I could share the word.
Here is the job description Joe shared:
Wanda Farm is a new first-generation farm with a big vision to grow and feed five thousands of families. We currently produce grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, pork and eggs on our grass-based regenerative farm. We plan to continue to grow current product production as well as add new enterprises.
We are seeking to hire a motivated individual to be the lead manager on our farm in all aspects concerning the production of the livestock, from start to harvest time. This is a long-term position with great potential for growth as our farm expands. (Willing to develop the right individual if no prior experience). Please see the full job description and apply at our website.
Wild Onion Co-op Has a General Manager
It has been a long time since a new food cooperative has opened within the city of Chicago, but if all goes well, 2023 will welcome both Wild Onion Market in the Rogers Park neighborhood and Chicago Market Co-op in the Uptown neighborhood.
And Wild Onion this week took a big step forward by hiring John Calhoun as the general manager of their store, which is tentatively planned to open next spring at 7007 N. Clark St. Calhoun is a 20-year food co-op veteran who most recently managed co-ops in New Orleans and western Massachusetts.
Wild Onion Market this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, will welcome all to the store location to take a tour, meet John Calhoun, and learn more about how to become a Wild Onion member. Their full press release is below.
And to learn more about food cooperatives, click this button to read my article on the Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois Directory site.
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Wild Onion Market today announced its latest step toward opening a community-owned food co-op in hiring John Calhoun as its general manager. An opportunity to meet and welcome John, tour the store, and learn more about the benefits of having Wild Onion Market in our community, will be held at the store on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. All are welcome.
“Too often, residents don’t have a say in access to healthy food,” said Jillian Jason, Wild Onion Market’s board president. “If you care about your health, you care about what you put on the table to eat, the Market brings democracy to our food supply, allowing us — not corporate profits — to determine what’s best for us, our families, and our communities.”
Calhoun brings 20 years of experience as a founder, developer, and manager of co-ops. In 2002, he co-founded the New Orleans Food Co-op (NOFC), and in 2018 he led the NOFC through a successful financial turnaround as general manager. He then went on to help start Cooperation New Orleans and worked directly with groups forming worker-owned co-ops. He has spent the last 2 years managing a food co-op in rural Western Massachusetts.
His move to the Chicagoland region allows him to build from his previous experience to serve the Rogers Park/Evanston area. “I’m excited to become part of the community and inspired by Wild Onion Market’s mission and commitment to cooperative values.” His first day is November 1.
Wild Onion Market’s announcement about its new general manager puts the co-op one giant step toward opening its store at 7007 N. Clark in Rogers Park. It will specialize in produce from local farmers that is grown using healthy practices.
With more than 1,300 owners, Wild Onion Market is undertaking a capital campaign to raise the remaining $633,000 needed to complete the buildout of its store so it can open in spring 2023. Anyone can become an owner or contribute. Proceeds strengthen food equity and strengthen local economies.
Use the following buttons to contribute if you are interested in an alternative to chain grocery stores.
More from the Dom’s Opening
Don Fitzgerald, Dom’s co-founder and co-CEO
“We look to our vendor partners to inspire us with not only products, but great ideas of today's consumer. Their success is our success. And as a result, we have doubled the assortment that's in this building [from that of the first Dom’s store in Lincoln Park], and we look forward to continued collaboration… As we continue to grow Dom’s we remain true to our mission, which is to offer well crafted, locally sourced, globally inspired foods and an interactive environment, like this space right here, and generous hospitality that connects people to their community and to one another.”
Jay Owen, co-founder and chairman
“From the start, our view was that the consumer shopping basket is quickly changing. Increasingly, it's being split between chore shopping, so maybe the stuff that you don't really want to do, and meal-based shopping, which is the stuff that you really want to do. Dom’s was developed as an experiential approach inspiring people to eat and connect. Dom’s continues to redefine the neighborhood market into a place that inspires culinary discovery, helping people experience meals and foods they are excited to eat.”
Bob Mariano, Dom’s co-founder and co-CEO and retail grocery legend
“We'd love when you leave here to tell your friends about your experience. It's what matters most, what sets us apart. Customer service is our calling card and that's because we take pride in our people. They in turn take pride in their work, and you leave knowing we were you were served with a smile.”