Posted May 04, 2022
From Chicago Food Magazine
Green City Market (GCM) will open its West Loop market on Saturday May 7, 2022, a full month earlier than years prior.
Market operations are a large expense for GCM. Vendor fees fund less than 40% of the costs to operate the market. In order to keep the market both affordable and profitable for these small businesses, GCM, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, relies on contributions from the Chicago community to cover the remaining expenses.
“We’re so grateful to the community for pulling together to raise enough funds for GCM to open both locations a full month earlier than anticipated. An early start to the season not only helps expand access to local, sustainable food for Chicagoans, but it also supports local farmers who have products growing and ready to sell,” said Mandy Moody, executive director of Green City Market.
In 2022, Green City Market West Loop will be open every Saturday, May 7 through November 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GCM’s extended West Loop season will feature 14 local farmers and food producers, including returning GCM favorites The Flower Garden, Star Farm, J2K CAPRAIO, and more. GCM will also welcome first-time vendor Primordia Foods, a local business specializing in mushrooms and microgreens, to the West Loop market.
Thomas Olson, owner of Primordia Foods shared, “Primordia is very excited to join the West Loop market this year to expand to a bigger customer base in the Chicago area.” He continued, “The renaissance happening in the way we grow and eat food is where Primordia hopes to help people to better understand how beneficial our business can be in this community.”
Green City Market will also fight food insecurity at its markets this season by offering a triple match for shoppers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Thanks to the sponsorship of clean tech company Arcadia, GCM increased SNAP benefit matching from $15 to $25 this season. An additional grant from Experimental Station’s Link Up Illinois program is allowing GCM to match an extra $25 for shoppers using SNAP benefits. That means when shoppers use $25 of SNAP benefits at GCM, they will receive an extra $50 to make their benefits go further.