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Local, Sustainable, Humane and Fair Food Conference

The 12th annual FamilyFarmed Good Food Festival & Conference runs from March 24 to 26 at Chicago’s UIC Forum. The Festival brings together consumers, producers, buyers, top chefs, experts and investors to celebrate the fast-growing Good Food movement.

On Saturday, shop for local foods at the Good Food Marketplace; learn from chef demos by Rick Bayless, Paul Kahan, Matthias Merges and Jason Hammel; introduce the kids to Good Food at the Purple Asparagus Kids’ Corner; get lunch at the Good Food Court and much more.

Rob Levitt, of the Butcher & Larder, will be teaching a home ham-curing session to celebrate Easter and there will be Good Food for Thought discussions on topics like Grassroots Food Activism, The Value of Local Food, Good Food and Farming Careers, and Good Food Is Good Medicine. Short DIY workshops on the Organic Valley Good Food Commons cover everything from chicken care, composting, canning and preserving, to building community through food. 

For those curious about our city’s urban agriculture scene, act quickly to get a seat on the Urban Farm Bus Tour. This trip sells out every year and visits Windy City Harvest, The Plant, Growing Home and Growing Power. If you have a business interest in Good Food or just want to learn more about the movement’s key issues, attend the Thursday Good Food Finance & Innovation Conference and the Friday Industry, School Food and Policy day, which includes the oldest and biggest industry showcase focused on local and sustainable food.

 

 Location: UIC Forum, 725 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago. Sat. festival tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; kids under 12 are free. Bus tour tickets and additional conference days range from $20 to $150 in advance. Buy tickets online and save at GoodFoodFestivals.com. Sponsored in part by Natural Awakenings