Are you ready for the Localvore Challenge?

Have you ever thought about how hard it would be to eat locally? Think about what it was like 100 years ago? How would it change your life and our environment if you only purchased and ate foods that were grown locally?

Here's your challenge: Become a localvore.

You ask, what's a localvore? According to the pundits, it's one who eats only locally grown and produced foods. There's been a international movement towards educating people about the advantages of doing such.

A localvore is a person committed to eating and learning about food grown within their food shed. Localvores recognize that there are multiple benefits of eating food grown close to home. The informal movement has sprouted in the past five years in response to a food supply that has become increasingly global and sprawling.It only stands to reason that Chicago's own Green City Market participates. So, during September 10-24, Chicagoans are being asked to register and participate in the Green City Market's LOCALVORE Challenge.

Eat Only Locally Produced Food For Two Weeks!

• Enjoy the best tasting, healthiest and freshest foods.


• Benefit the local economy by supporting local farmers and producers.


• Create less pollution and protect the environment by reducing the distance your food travels from farm to table.


• Preserve farmland and sustain rural communities.

Guidelines for the Challenge:

• Local means: grown or made entirely with ingredients from Illinois and its border states, plus Michigan.
• Set your exceptions before you begin (common exceptions include sugar, salt, pepper, spices, olive oil, coffee and tea).
• Pick up your information packet at the information table at Green City Market.
• Get recipes and menu ideas from our new localvore challenge hotline hosted by The Chopping Block. Each day during the challenge, the chefs from The Chopping block will answer your questions and provide recipes for cooking local meals from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Email:Greencitymarketlocalvore@thechoppingblock.net
  
• Share ideas and talk with Chopping Block owner, Shelly Young about the challenges and joys of going local on our blog. http://www.greencitymarketlocalvorechallenge.wordpress.com/ For more information about the Chopping Block cooking classes visit http://www.thechoppingblock.net/

The following restaurants are supporting the GCM Localvore Challenge by providing locally produced menu options during the weeks of September 10-24:

312 Chicago - 312-696-2420

Big Jones - 773-275-5725

Blue Water Grill - 312-777-1400

Frontera Grill - 312-661-1434

HB Home Bistro - 773-661-0299

Hot Chocolate - 773-489-1747

Le Lan - 312-280-9100

Lula Cafe - 773-489-9554

mk - 312-482-9179

Nacional 27 - 312-664-2727 (Local Cocktails)

NAHA - 312-321-6242

Niche - 630-262-1000

North Pond - 773-477-5845

Osteria di Tramonto - 847-777-6570

Osteria via Stato - 312-642-8450

Piccolo Sogno - 312-421-0077

Prairie Grass Cafe - 847-205-4433

Scoozi - 312-943-5900

Seedlings - 269-227-3958

Shaw’s Crab House - 312-527-2722

Socca - 773-248-1155

Sola - 773-327-3868

The Bristol - 773-862-5555

The Peninsula Hotel - 312-573-6754

Uncommon Ground - 773-929-3680

Urban Belly - 773-583-0500

Vie - 708-246-2082

Local Stores that Feature Local Foods

August Grocery (Wicker Park)
1500 N. Division Street, 773-252-9560

Fox and Obel (near Navy Pier)
401 E. Illinois Street, 312-410-7301

Green Grocer (River West)
1402 W. Grand

Irv & Shelley’s Fresh Picks
A weekly delivery service of organic
and local goods
www.freshpicks.com

Olivia’s Market (Bucktown)
2014 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4220

Pastoral Food and Wine (Lakeview)
2945 N. Broadway, 773-472-4781
(Loop) 53 E. Lake Street

True Nature Health Foods (Edgewater)
6034 N. Broadway, 773-465-6400

Whole Foods: multiple Chicago locations

*Special Localvore Challenge vendors at Green City Market! We've brought in a few guest farmers to help fill out your Localvore menus:

Wednesday, September 10: *Three Sisters Garden, Kankakee IL Dry black beans and huitlacoche
Saturday, September 13: *Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm, Ottawa IL Pastured pork, chicken and eggs *Kismet Organics, Fennville MI Certified organic pears

*Meadow Haven Farm, Sheffield IL
Grass fed beef, certified organic chicken and eggs

*Three Sisters Garden

Green City Market Mission

• To improve the availability of a diverse range of high quality foods.


• To connect local producers and farmers to chefs, restaurateurs,
  food organizations and the public.


• And, to support small family farms and promote a healthier society
  through education and appreciation for local, fresh, sustainably raised produce and products.
  

Directions to Market

The Chicago Green City Market is located at the South end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive. Discounted parking is available for $8 for the first two hours at the Piper's Alley Self Park Garage located at 230 W. North Ave. Customers must pick up a validation coupon at the Information Desk to receive the discounted price.

Additional discounted parking is available for $9 for the first two hours with validation in the parking lot off of Stockton Drive at North Avenue.


Lincoln Park Trolley Service
The 43rd ward has a new Free Trolley service through Lincoln Park and along Michigan Avenue to Chicago's most popular sites. The trolley service stops directly in front of Chicago's Green City Market and runs every 20 minutes.