11 May
Thx, happily aboard! RT @chiwilderness #FF newest members of the Chicago Wilderness alliance: @GDDonnelley, @willconserve, @WaukeganPrkDist
Local Food Production
More local production of fresh food offers opportunities to conserve farmland and encourage environmentally sustainable land uses. We are working to cultivate partnerships that build thriving food systems local to the communities in our two regions.
For the first time in 40 years, changing perspectives in people’s attitudes toward food increasingly allow farmers to work towards a higher standard of food production. A growing demand for locally-produced foods enables farmers to earn a living growing diverse crops and grassfed livestock. This cultivates more responsible land use and the preservation of a vital part of America’s rural cultural heritage.
With the ultimate goal of valued and protected land, the foundation is working to strengthen vital partnerships among farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, investors, and conservation leaders that contribute to a strong local food system.
Partners
In Chicago, we work primarily through Fresh Taste. A collaboration of several private foundations and the City of Chicago, Fresh Taste was formed to address local food production. It addresses a wide range of food-related issues: childhood obesity, rural poverty, food deserts, healthy food, and small and family farms. This spectrum of issues informs our particular interest in land conservation. To learn more about this initiative in the Chicago region, please contact Arthur Pearson - Director, Chicago Program at (312) 977-2709.
We recently began this initiative in the Lowcountry. To learn more, please contact John Sands - Director, Lowcountry Program at (843) 651-3793 or jsands@gddf.org.
Activities
In Chicago, we are a member of the steering committee of the Fresh Taste collaborative. We meet regularly with our partners and work with them to explore an array of options for improving the production, processing, delivery and marketing of locally-produced foods. In both of our regions, we make grants to select organizations involved in farmer training, matching new and transitioning farmers with land. We encourage regional planning agencies to incorporate local food production into long-range plans. We work with land trusts to develop farmland preservation programs.
Chicago Region Local Food Production Grants
View Chicago food production grants »
View Lowcountry food production grants »