The 11th Annual Good Food Festival & Conference in Chicago March 19-21 would be worth attending on virtue alone. Presented by the non-profit organization FamilyFarmed, a leading advocate of local and sustainably produced food, this event is all about the Good Food movement that’s transforming the way we eat — for the better.
The Good Food Festival & Conference is a celebration of the food and farm entrepreneurs and artisans who are rapidly expanding our local and sustainable food systems in the Midwest. The consumers who attend are helping to build Good Food into a powerful force for a healthier, more sustainable… and tastier… America.
But the Good Food Festival & Conference, held at the UIC Forum on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus, is not just educational and inspirational. It is fun for all ages!
The Good Food Festival on Saturday, March 21 is the centerpiece of the nation’s oldest and largest trade show focused on local and sustainable food. It is the big public gathering of the three-day event, with an amazing program of speakers, workshops, demos, a trade show floor and much more.
The Good Food Commons may be of particular interest to those interested in adding new DIY skills to a health-conscious, holistic lifestyle. Featuring a rotating lineup of farmers, gardeners, food artisans, and more, the Commons will be a hub of great tips that attendees can take home and put to practical use.
The Good Food Festival also provides a unique way to learn more about the rising phenomenon of urban agriculture. You can purchase a ticket for the Urban Farm Bus Tour, which will visit four locations that are growing food and jobs right in the city of Chicago.
Inside the Exhibit Hall, you can learn from top chefs, including Matthias Merges (Yusho, Billy Sunday, A10) and Jason Hammel (Lula Café, Nightwood), who will discuss their Pilot Light program to teach Chicago schoolchildren about the role of food in society. As another example of how FamilyFarmed is family-friendly, children will enjoy the Kids’ Corner sponsored by the Purple Asparagus organization.
The Exhibit Hall is the place to meet more than 100 Good Food producers, CSA farmers, and vendors. There will be great food for purchase, of course, and in a first at the Festival, craft beverages.
Speaking of great food and drink, you can taste the best at the Localicious Party (Friday night, March 20), which pairs regional farmers with Chicago’s top chefs who value local sourcing.
The first two days of the Good Food Festival & Conference are targeted to people who are interested in the business and issues of Good Food.
If that describes you, then you should attend the Good Food Financing & Innovation Conference that kicks off the event on Thursday, March 19. It is a day of dynamic programming that connects funders with food businesses that are seeking resources to grow and flourish.
This year, the Thursday program will be enhanced by presentations from Fellows in FamilyFarmed’s new Good Food Business Accelerator program, which provides mentorship, technical assistance, and networking opportunities.
The schedule on Friday, March 20 includes the Good Food Trade Show, Food Policy Conference, and School Food Conference. The program is expected to highlight a recently launched campaign to persuade policymakers in Chicago to enact a city Good Food Procurement Policy for food served to public school students and others.
March 19-21 at the UIC Forum, University of Illinois at Chicago. www.goodfoodfestivals.com
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