61st Street Farmers Market
In a study funded by LaSalle Bank, entitled "The Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago," Mari Galligher, the study's author, identified the Woodlawn neighborhood as one of Chicago's "food deserts." Of course, we who live and work here did not need a study to know that Woodlawn suffers from a dearth of available fresh and wholesome foods. We are reminded of the lack of food resources every time we need a gallon of milk or a hanker for a piece of fruit. According to Galligher, the consequence for Woodlawners is an egregiously high rate of diabetes and other food-related health problems.
A 50-year history of economic divestment in Woodlawn has until now made it impossible to attract supermarket chains or other retailers, which are loathe to be the first to invest in the neighborhood. Moreover, a lack of sound urban planning and poor political leadership has resulted in the eradication of the once-existing commercial district that, in the past, thrived with small businesses and that, until this last decade, continued to hold out the possibility of a commercial renaissance.
That the economically disadvantaged are given access only to food that we call 'junk' is a political issue. That the economically disadvantaged lack access to nutrition education is a political issue. That the economically disadvantaged are deprived of a healthy and positive relationship to food—one of our most fundamental cultural expressions—is a political issue. These are political issues because all of these conditions can be changed.
Along with efforts by some others to begin to address these conditions, the Experimental Station is making plans to operate a weekend farmers market scheduled to start in June 2008. With input and participation of community members, we hope to create a market that sustains us all as we, collectively, sustain it. The 61st Street Farmers Market will aim to provide fresh produce, dairy products, meats, and other types of products and amenities.
In addition to providing access to nutritious foods, the Experimental Station seeks to build into the market a strong educational component. Guiding consumer choices with available product information, nutritional workshops, and food-preparation events will help to build a food-wise population that will both eat more nutritiously and be more demanding of future food sources that may want to move into the neighborhood.
We are currently in the process of recruiting volunteers and drawing together a network of individuals and organizations that can help provide assistance and input regarding a desirable product and amenity mix, fundraising, and educational/nutritional programming.
If you would like to get involved, please send us an email at info@experimentalstation.org.