Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois – A Local Food Green Farmers Market

In case you missed it, The GGM appeared in the Chicago Tribune on July 22nd in “Chicago area green markets growing…” The article discusses different approaches to sustainable farming including organic, naturally raised and where you can find sustainable food in the Chicagoland area:

… Fresh, local and sustainably grown also are at the heart of the Geneva Green Market, which opened in 2007, according to Karen Stark, co-founder with Connie Weaver. Farmers must come from within 200 miles and fill out a “sustainability” statement with their application.

Raised on a Minnesota dairy farm, Stark is passionate about the market and extended it indoors last winter. “Even though we do a kids corner and chefs’ demos, this is teaching people about the food. It’s not about entertainment value,” she said. “It’s about sustaining your lifestyle with the most nutrition value in your food you can possibly buy locally”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires farmers to be certified by a third party to use the term organic. Non-organic farmers use a variety of terms to show their practices: “sustainable,” “chemical free” and “naturally grown.” Or “healthy farming practices used,” “no spray,” free-ranged,” “pastured,” “grass fed” and “no antibiotics or hormones.” In those cases, it is up to the consumer to decide what is acceptable…

For the full article visit the Chicago Tribune: “Chicago area green markets growing…”

O’Leary Farm is one of our new vendors this year. The Geneva Green Market, NFP is pleased to have them this year as they are a like-minded addition to the market. Below is their sustainability statement, which provides excellent reasons for doing as much of your weekly shopping at the market as possible.

“We wish to be a force for positive social and environmental change by offering a variety if naturally-grown heirloom vegetables and herbs to the people of Northern Illinois. Tomatoes are our specialty and during the season we offer over twenty varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Harvested at the peak of ripeness our vegetables are brought to market for sale within 24 hours. We start most of our plants from organic and heirloom seed. We recycle, compost, and use green products whenever possible. Our customers appreciate the superior flavor and freshness of these foods, along with the good feeling they get from supporting a small-scale, family run, environmentally sensible operation. By choosing to grow our produce naturally, without chemical pesticides or fertilizers we promote a healthy relationship with the natural world. By choosing to purchase goods from our farm, you support a local farm family, actively help to protect our natural resources, and build community!”