From Farm to Market to Compost: The Urban Canopy, a 61st Street Farmers Market Vendor, Is Transforming Chicago’s Food System
Local food waste experts The Urban Canopy hosted our Market School tent last week, where they showed our community how to create a worm bin and shared the many benefits of worms and composting.
Since joining the 61st Street Farmers Market in 2013, they have offered unique items such as compost bins, shiitake mushrooms, wheatgrass, and sunflowers from their farm. They even helped build our hoop house at Jackson Park Terrace. We’re excited to spotlight the work they’re doing beyond being a beloved market vendor.
While working with Chicago Public Schools, founder Alex Poltorak explored how nutrition affects children’s ability to succeed in school. If a child lacks access to healthy food, learning becomes a secondary concern. Alex envisioned transforming rooftops and vacant lots into spaces to grow fruits and vegetables.
Officially founded in 2011, The Urban Canopy’s mission is to make healthy produce accessible to all, reduce the distance fresh food travels, divert food waste from landfills, and create meaningful local jobs.
Today, they grow produce, herbs, and flowers on a one-acre farm in Englewood. Their harvest is distributed to farmers markets across the city—including the Bronzeville and Pullman Farmers Markets, which they also manage.
Their Local Unified CSA (L.U.C.S.A) operates 48 weeks a year, delivering more than 24,000 shares annually. Each share includes bread, eggs, a beverage, mushrooms, and produce from local vendors and farmers.
Through their Compost Club, The Urban Canopy collects food scraps from eco-conscious residents and businesses, turning them into nutrient-rich compost. In 2024 alone, they diverted nearly 4 million pounds of food waste from landfills. This compost nourishes crops on their farm and is also sold to the community.
For over 14 years, The Urban Canopy has worked to build a more sustainable and equitable food system in Chicago. Close the local food loop by checking them out!
