The Good Food Festival Chicago - founded by Jim Slama of Family Farmed - was brimming with passionate & knowledgeable folks sharing their products and ideas, and I can honestly say after participating in the Festival my life has been forever changed for the better. I can also confirm that after speaking with many other people throughout the course of the weekend, I’m not the only one who feels that way. The Festival - held March 14-16 at the UIC Forum - created the most incredible sense of community. From the moment you walked in you immediately felt at home. Even first-time conversations with perfect strangers had you feeling like you were at a family gathering or neighborhood block party. The buzz of artisans, brewers, farmers, crafters & chefs all coming together to share and connect was simply infectious.
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| photo courtesy of http://goodfoodfestivals.com |
I was lucky enough to partake in the Fest as a member of the Tiny But Mighty (TBM) Popcorn team. Going into the Festival I felt I had a pretty good sense of how far this popcorn had spread; still, I wasn't completely aware of just how big of an impact it's had on so many lives up to this point - and the good word (and taste!) continue to spread. Hundreds of people stopped by our booth throughout the weekend - some who were brand new to our popcorn - and many who were repeat customers.
Those who were TBM veterans regaled us with stories of how our popcorn has changed their lives, how it's the only popcorn they'll eat, and how they have almost all their friends converted to Tiny But Mighty devotees. Many shared stories of those with diverticulitis or Chrohn's disease, who thought they could no longer eat popcorn until they tried TBM's unique kernels - which have hulls that disintegrate when popped - virtually eliminating digestive concerns associated with larger popcorn varieties. People raved about the flavor of the kernels and how they actually feel good about feeding it to their children. It also became clear that my uncle - Farmer Gene - has become quite a celebrity in his own right. I guess that’s what happens when an undying passion for what you do is combined with the ability to connect with nearly anyone, simply by telling them about a product that you know is really good, and is something that you really, truly believe in.
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| clockwise starting top left: Me & my uncle, Farmer Gene | TBM Festival exhibition table | TBM crew at the Festival | TBM's COO, Kevin Sabo and his wife Laura |
Those who were TBM veterans regaled us with stories of how our popcorn has changed their lives, how it's the only popcorn they'll eat, and how they have almost all their friends converted to Tiny But Mighty devotees. Many shared stories of those with diverticulitis or Chrohn's disease, who thought they could no longer eat popcorn until they tried TBM's unique kernels - which have hulls that disintegrate when popped - virtually eliminating digestive concerns associated with larger popcorn varieties. People raved about the flavor of the kernels and how they actually feel good about feeding it to their children. It also became clear that my uncle - Farmer Gene - has become quite a celebrity in his own right. I guess that’s what happens when an undying passion for what you do is combined with the ability to connect with nearly anyone, simply by telling them about a product that you know is really good, and is something that you really, truly believe in.
Our team was able to forge genuine connections face-to-face with a number good souls throughout the three day event which,in addition to the actual Festival on Saturday, included a Good Financing Fair on Thursday, a Tradeshow, School Food & Policy Summit Friday during the day, and the fabulous Localicious event Friday night (which I'll be covering separately in a follow-up post). I still can’t believe just how many awe-inspiring individuals I was personally introduced to, and even further how many I had the pleasure of connecting with. I feel it's my duty to spread the good word so I have spotlighted some of those individuals & companies below. Pay close attention if you know what’s good for you - these are the people changing the future of food as we speak...
Where else would I start?! It’s no secret that I’m a huge supporter of this popcorn, and not just because this business is part of my family. Over the years I have learned just what this product stands for, and at the Good Food Fest I had the opportunity to hear my uncle Gene speak in detail about how TBM came to be, and what's in store for the company's future. This product is such an incredible labor of love and a dream realized for all those involved.
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| Vicki Nowicki, Fred Kirschenmann & Gene Mealhow | Gene educating Festival goers | Farmer Gene is helping change the way we eat! | Fred & Gene speak about Grassroots Biodiversity |
Gene had the opportunity to speak alongside Fred Kirschenmann, a longtime national & international leader in sustainable agriculture, and President of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. Throughout the course of their lecture, which focused on Grassroots Biodiversity - why biodiversity, heirloom varieties, and the farmers who support them matter - there were so many interesting, eye-opening facts about heirloom seeds and the future of the world's seed supply in general. A few facts to share:
- TBM is considered an heirloom popcorn because the genetic makeup of the plant is virtually identical to the corn that covered North America for thousands of years.
- Over the last century corn crops have undergone a transformation in response to an explosion of commercial needs such as feed for animals, cereal grains & corn syrup. Unfortunately these crops have taken control and left the ancient diversity of heirloom varieties near extinction.
- We stand to lose the history of popcorn—the naturally perfect flavor, its ability to adapt to changing environments, and the social history of a food grown personally and then shared communally—without the efforts of Farmer Gene, Fred Kirschenmann and others like the Seed Savers Exchange.
- To learn more about the future of the world's seed supply and the dangers it faces, the Seed Savers Exchange offers free Webinars on their website.
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FarmedHere™ is an innovative organization with a simple mission: offer fresh, healthy, local produce. What makes them standout you may ask? They do aquaponic vertical farming like no one else. Not familiar with the technique? Neither was I until the festival,but I am now fully aware of its brilliance. Aquaponic vertical farming means the FarmedHere team grows incredible, quality greens indoors in a unique, soil-free environment using vertical growing techniques (plants are stacked up to six beds tall) and nutrient-rich water in a 100% chemical-free environment. Mechanical pumps circulate the water between tanks of hormone-free tilapia and then deliver the oxygen and nutrient packed liquid to the roots of the plants, resulting in some of the freshest greens around.
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| Farmer Gene supports FarmedHere | Jolanta Hardej, CEO of FarmedHere, with her daughter and members of the FarmedHere team |
Here are a few more fun & interesting facts about FarmedHere:
- FarmedHere’s greens travel less than 15 miles from farm to shelf, compared to the average head of lettuce that can travel as much as 2,000 miles. (source: Leopold center for Sustainable Agriculture)
- Compared to traditional agriculture, FarmedHere grows up to 12 times the yield and achieves more than 90 percent crop success rate due to its controlled environment. (source: University of California, Davis, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics)
- Indoor vertical farming reduces fossil fuel usage by eliminating the need for tractors, plows and long-distance shipping. It alsoconserves 97 percent of the fresh water used per farmed acre. (source: Geoff Wilson, Convenor, Aquaponics Network Australia, Feb. 17,2006)
This March, the FarmedHere family opened a new 90,000-square foot facility in Bedford Park, IL. This sustainable indoor farm is the only USDA Organic Certified aquaponic indoor facility, and the largest operational indoor vertical farm in the United States. At peak production, this operation will produce nearly one million pounds of greens annually to the Chicagoland area, and 200 local jobs will be created. More than enough reasons to support this incredible company & products.
I had the pleasure of personally speaking with Jolanta Hardej, CEO of FarmedHere, and I was lucky enough to leave the Festival with a package of their local baby arugula & a bottle of the Sweet Basil Vinaigrette in tow. After the first taste I was addicted - it is some of the freshest, boldest-tasting produce around and I now have a new favorite dressing to go on any & everything! Check out where you can buy their products here. (source: http://farmedhere.com/)
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| The best dressing I've ever tasted - FarmedHere's Sweet Basil Vinaigrette | A package of fresh & tasty local baby arugula from FarmedHere |
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Another individual I had the pleasure of meeting was Bob Borchardt of Harvest Moon Farms - a certified organic vegetable farm in Viroqua, WI. He and his wife Jennifer manned a table at the Festival that was lined with jars covered in beautifully-colored labels that had an incredibly charming, retro feel. Listening to Bob describe their farm in Wisconsin and the magical farm-to-table dinner parties they throw, one can’t help but conjure up images of a warm summer night out in the open country air,everyone at a long, communal dining table - laughing with friends & family, enjoying delicious, honest food under the soft glow of the late afternoon sun - all while the sound of the song that shares the Farms’ moniker softly buzzes in the background.
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| Harvest Moon Farms local, organic Heirloom Tomatoes | Just one of the many produce items offered by the farm |
A few more facts about Harvest Moon Farms can be found below, and the link to a YouTube video about the farm can be found here. Do yourself a favor - checkout their website, get yourself on a mailing list, join the CSA Program and spread the word to your local grocer & restaurants. Ifyou’re not already thinking of ways to be part of Harvest Moon Farms’ smart, charismatic world, trust me - you will be soon enough.
- Harvest Moon partners with Wholesalers to sell to local companies, restaurants and chefs, and are working towards opening their own Farm to Table restaurant.
- Bob & Jennifer cultivated a successful Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Those who join the program essentially buy a share in the farm - members commit to buying their share before the growing season and then they get to enjoy the bounty of the farm.
- Members will get a box of produce & products once a week. Included in each weekly package is a mix of seasonal,organic & heirloom produce, along with recipes, cooking tips and information on preparing & storing the food included in the package that week.
- They have offices in Chicago and offer produce packages to the Chicago area and various Chicago suburbs - check here to see where they distribute.
- Harvest Moon also offers a Farm to School two-day program to teach students about sustainable farming, the importance of low food miles and fresh, great-tasting produce.
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| Bob & Jenny Borchardt of Harvest Moon Farms pose for a photo at the Good Food Festival Chicago with Farmer Gene |
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The NessAlla Kombucha ladies are some of our favorite people we've had the pleasure of working next to and trading products with over the years. These ladies have a very strong & smart product brewed fresh to order in Madison, WI, and you can tell they put their heart & soul into every bottle they produce. In case you haven't heard of NessAlla Kombucha, let’s give you a little background information straight from the source:
- Kombucha is a fermented tea that is tangy, slightly sweet and naturally effervescent. It's been around for centuries and is chock-full of probiotics, B & C vitamins, amino acids and live enzymes.
- This powerful drink has many health benefits - it gives a boost to your immune system, aids in digestion, detoxifies your body and oxygenates your blood.
- Suggestion for use: Kombucha has a unique affect on every individual. The ladies at NessAlla recommend 4-8 ounces twice a day until your body gets used to it.
- Kombucha contains gluconic acid, which aids the body in detoxification. Your body will begin to throw toxins off, so be sure to drink plenty of water to flush the toxins out or they will be re-absorbed into your blood stream, which may cause one to feel flushed and/or nauseous. A good rule of thumb for water consumption is to drink as much water as you do Kombucha. As you get used to it, drink what you are comfortable with. Listen to your body.
(source: www.nessalla.com)
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| NessAlla Kombucha exhibition table | Farmer Gene with Vanessa Tortolano & Alla Shapiro of NessAlla | Gene gives a thumbs up to NessAlla | Seasonal NessAlla: red clover, holy basil & oat straw |
This company is headed by yet another smart, passionate and down-to-earth team based in Wisconsin, who believe in honest products and offering their customers the best and healthiest options.
Century Sun's Oil is pure, certified organic Sunflower Oil produced on a 130-year-old family farm just outside Pulaski, WI. They partner with local organic dairy farmers to grow their seeds in a diverse rotation, allowing for a high-quality product while offering farmers another crop to grow. It also provides farmers with a high-protein meal that can be fed back to their cows for improved milk production and better health. Yet another thoughtful product which you owe it to yourself to check out - take a look at their website for more information!
Century Sun's Oil is pure, certified organic Sunflower Oil produced on a 130-year-old family farm just outside Pulaski, WI. They partner with local organic dairy farmers to grow their seeds in a diverse rotation, allowing for a high-quality product while offering farmers another crop to grow. It also provides farmers with a high-protein meal that can be fed back to their cows for improved milk production and better health. Yet another thoughtful product which you owe it to yourself to check out - take a look at their website for more information!
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| Farmer Gene with his friends at Century Sun Oil LLC |
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Every thing I tasted, learned, sipped, heard & saw at the Good Food Festival Chicago weekend was beauty & quality in every sense. I had an idea of what I was walking into, but it was exactly that - just an idea. I had no way of accurately anticipating the thrill ride I was in for - how much I would learn- how my own passions would be ignited - how I would be forever changed by the people I met - and how my life would never be the same. I am forever grateful for the experience, and can’t tell you how much I look forward to next year’s Good Food Festival Chicago,and to other like-minded festivals, markets & events. I have developed a voracious appetite for this industry - what is good for us, good for our souls, and good for the future - it's so incredibly important to learn, understand and spread the word, because we won’t be around for forever. As my uncle Gene says:
“The future is in the hands of the young.
The only thing we can do is pass it on.”
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The only thing we can do is pass it on.”
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| TBM field in Shellsburg, Iowa |
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| Chef's Kimchi Challenge at the Food Festival | Festival & Family Farmed founder Jim Slama and I posing for a photo | Produce display at the Fest | Farmer Gene posing with his friends from Whole Foods |
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| The exhibition team for B'GabsGoodies | Brew & Grow's seed supply | Brew & Grow's microgreens on display | Omena Organics exhibition table |
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| Festival goers at the TBM booth | Rick Bayless demoing at the Fest | This cutie took her little piggy to the market | Canned veggies from Bushel & Peck's Local Market |
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WHAT A FABULOUS POST..... ABOUT A FABULOUS FESTIVAL...FABULOUS PEOPLE....AND FABULOUS PRODUCTS!!!!! So glad you had the honor to experience all of it Ashley!!!
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