Posted Oct 22, 2024
Organizers are depending on community support to fund local farmers’ indoor season and feed food-insecure families
Green City Market (GCM) is set to relaunch its indoor farmers’ market season on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at its Avondale location located at 3031 N Rockwell St. GCM Avondale will operate from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on select Saturdays from December through March.
“Shopping at Green City Market year-round is more than just a way to enjoy fresh, sustainable food - it's an investment in the future of our local farmers, our land, and our environment,” said Sarah Stegner, founding member and past-president of Green City Market and co-owner and chef of Prairie Grass Cafe. “By choosing to support GCM and its farmers, you are directly supporting our local food system and ensuring future generations have access to local, nutrient-dense food."
So far this season, Green City Market experienced record attendance, welcoming more than 507,000 customers across its two locations at West Loop and Lincoln Park. Now, as it nears the opening of GCM Avondale, nonprofit Green City Market is asking community members for increased financial support in order to help sustain the organization throughout the winter season.
For Green City Market’s farmers and vendors, the indoor market is crucial as peak season nears an end and farmers face the most financially challenging time of the year when cash flow is at its lowest.
While GCM is prepared to operate year-round, the organization relies on donations to support operation costs and ensure the market remains affordable for its small-scale, local farmers during the challenging winter months and to make fresh food more affordable for those facing food insecurity
“I believe that access to sustainable and organic products helps not just myself, but everyone,” said a participant of GCM For All, the organization’s program dedicated to expanding food access to Chicagoans facing food insecurity. This year, the program has skyrocketed, generating more than $255,000 in purchasing power for food-insecure Chicagoans, while uplifting local farmers. The shopper continued: “GCM for All allows us to feel more a part of society - being able to participate in positive consumer behavior means a lot to us.”
However, in order to continue supporting local farmers through its year-round markets while meeting customer demand, Green City Market is depending on the financial support from community members to sustain this immense growth and ensure programs like GCM For All can continue. To help support this work, you can make a one-time donation or become a monthly donor at www.greencitymarket.org/gcmgrowers.
Stay tuned for more information on this winter’s vendors by signing up for Green City Market’s weekly newsletter or following the organization on social media. View upcoming markets and plan your visit at www.greencitymarket.org/calendar.