Spring is nearly here, and Chicago’s got momentum to improve local food systems. Tuesday, March 18th the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council (CFPAC) is hosting their third annual summit at the Chicago Cultural Center with a theme of “Building Stronger Communities Through Healthy Food”. Then on Wednesday, March 19th at Green Drinks—a networking group for Chicago environmentalists and professionals—the panel discussion will focus on “How Can We Make Sustainable Food More Accessible?” Both events are open to the public.
The Chicago Food Policy Summit is an all day event, consisting of presentations and workgroups aimed at rethinking the impact of food systems—from producer to consumer—within our communities. Right after breakfast (organic produce courtesy of Goodness Greeness) State Representative Julie Hamos and State Senator Jackie Collins will bring attendees up to date on the recently passed “Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act” and the work of the taskforce that’s been appointed to implement the act. Sessions throughout the day will focus on a variety of relevant topics including the progress and success of community projects which enhance food access in the city through urban farms and gardens, composting, organic school lunches, the impact of these projects on specific neighborhoods, and the ways that youth are engaging in healthy food production and learning to garden. There will be sessions for strategizing ongoing initiatives and future projects, and for identifying policy opportunities for city and state government officials to engage in these issues to support, promote and further the cause.
Hopefully some of the same people energized from the summit will be able to attend Green Drinks the next day. A lively discussion is always guaranteed at Green Drinks, but this time around there’s a special opportunity to carry insights worked over at the summit into a group that has the enthusiasm to help follow through with good green ideas. Sarah Aubry
Chicago Food Policy Summit http://www.chicagofoodpolicy.org/summit.htm
Gar Hall, Chicago Cultural Center Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. $20 suggested donation
Chicago Green Drinks http://www.foresightdesign.org/events/detail.php?id=24
Jefferson Tap & Grille, 325 N. Jefferson Wednesday March 19, 2008 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation
To attain organic certification, crops must be grown to strict standards set out by the USDA’s National Organic Program. Many consumers are reassured that plants, meat, dairy and eggs that are raised organically are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or genetically modified ingredients. Another requirement of the organic standard is that crops may not be fertilized with sewage sludge, the solid waste byproduct of water treatment, which includes industrial waste. The absence of sewage sludge (euphemistically termed “biosolids”) isn’t the first reason most people cite for choosing organic, but it is an important one. 