Posted Mar 18, 2022
Green City Market is officially reopening its Lincoln Park location (opens in a new window) on Saturday, April 2, 2022 and its West Loop location (opens in a new window) on Saturday, May 7, 2022.
After receiving permit approval from the city to open a month ahead of schedule at both its locations, GCM launched a campaign (opens in a new window) to raise funds to support the increased costs of operating an extended season.
“It might shock people to learn that it costs more than $200,000 each year to operate our markets,” explains GCM Executive Director Mandy Moody. “From permit fees to portalet rentals, market expenses aren’t exactly the most exciting things to talk about; but the costs are significant for a market of our scale.”
To keep the market affordable for small-scale, local farmers, vendor fees cover less than 40% of the costs to operate the market. Remaining expenses are funded through charitable contributions (opens in a new window) made by individuals and businesses.
Chris and Lisa Zastrow of Wholesome Harvest Farm (opens in a new window) shared,
“Many of us as farmers have things growing and ready for market at this time of the year, and this gives us a great opportunity to expand upon those offerings. We’re also excited to be able to connect with all of our customers for several extra weeks a season.”
In 2022, GCM Lincoln Park will operate every Saturday in April from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then every Wednesday and Saturday, May through October from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. GCM West Loop will operate every Saturday, May through October from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Mary Bartelme Park.
GCM’s 2022 extended outdoor season will feature 58 local farmers and food producers, including long-time favorites like Nichols Farm & Orchard (opens in a new window) and Mick Klug Farm (opens in a new window) as well as seven new vendors. New farms include Flatwater Farms (opens in a new window), a USDA Certified Organic produce farm located in Buchanan, Michigan and Kankakee Valley Homestead (opens in a new window), a Certified Naturally Grown produce farm located in Walkerton, Indiana.
New ready-to-eat food vendors include Molino Tortilleria (opens in a new window), an heirloom corn tortilla producer sourcing corn from local farmers, and Flat & Point (opens in a new window), a restaurant based in Logan Square that will be selling sourdough, bagels, and other baked goods using local grains.
Plus, starting in its 2022 outdoor season, GCM will increase its SNAP benefits match from $15 to $25 (opens in a new window) to help maximize food assistance benefits for Chicagoans facing food insecurity.
“Shoppers who use an EBT card like the Illinois Link card can double their purchasing power at Green City Market,” explains Moody. “This donor-funded program is critical to expanding food access throughout the city. Last year neighbors from more than 70 zip codes across the city visited Green City Market to use the program”.