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And the Last Local Food Community Roundup of the 1st Week of 2025
Chicago Chefs Cook — which holds fundraisers to benefit philanthropic and humanitarian causes — has announced that it is planning an event to raise money for members of the Los Angeles culinary community who have suffered losses during the ongoing horrific wildfires.
As the organization posted on Facebook:
Please stay tuned as we finalize details for a fundraising campaign that will support the restaurants impacted by the devastating fires in Los Angeles.
The @chicagochefscook community is deeply moved by the outpouring of support and interest from so many of you in helping the restaurants impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles.
The devastating effects of these fires have reminded us all of the importance of standing together as a culinary community. Your willingness to step up and offer assistance reflects the incredible compassion and leadership that defines Chicago’s chefs.
Chefs/Culinary Community - please DM us if you would like to participate. More information to come.
I will post details about the event as soon as details become available.
Food Animal Concerns Trust Meets Fundraising Goal and Sets 2025 Agenda
Chicago-based Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) is a leading national advocate for humane treatment of farm livestock. Their latest newsletter brought the good news that they met their end-of-year fundraising goal.
They also reported their agenda for 2025:
Here are just a few ways we are planning to expand our impact in 2025.
🌟 In addition to awarding more than $200,000 in new grants to 75–80 farmers for projects that help farmers raise their animals humanely, we’re also introducing an additional $10,000 System Change and Innovation Grant to help one farmer transform their farm.
🌟 We have partnered with the ASPCA to launch a National High Welfare Farming Network, uniting humane farmers across the country. This network will foster community among farmers and empower them to advocate for better treatment of farm animals at both national and local levels.
🌟 FACT will continue working to address the urgent threat of bird flu and its impact on public health. Join us in calling for action — sign the petition today to help prevent the next public health crisis.
🌟 We will also be pushing for action by advocating for a full ban on carbadox, a harmful drug used in pork production that ends up in our meat products. Add your voice to the cause by urging the FDA to act now.
We’re excited to make an even bigger impact this year. Please consider supporting FACT so we can continue to transform farming, empower farmers, and advocate for safer food systems.
Learn more about this important organization, and consider making a donation, by clicking the button below.
You still have time to register for one of the region's most important annual conferences. From Food to Flowers: Everything Local — presented by the Illinois Farmers Market Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Specialty Growers Association — takes place January 29-31 in the state capital of Springfield.
And to get a sense of what's in store at the conference, click the button below to access the official program, which lists the dozens of panels and sessions from which participants will be able to choose.
Central Illinois' Zumwalt Acres Seeks Spring Stewards for Communal Farming Operation
Zumwalt Acres is a multifaceted farm, community, and educational hub located in Sheldon in east-central Illinois. Their community of young people (age 18-27+) stewards horticulture, agroforestry and animal systems, hosts events, creates art, conducts climate change research, and builds Jewish/interfaith community together on the farm.
If you're interested in farming, communal living, and visioning a better future of food, Zumwalt Acres has openings for two or three fellows to join them for the spring season (March-June) or longer.
Applications are due by January 15 (Wednesday of next week).
Click the button below for more information and to apply.
Food Shed Co-op Grocery in Woodstock, Illinois Bids Farewell to Its Founding General Manager
It is not easy to launch a co-op grocery store in Illinois, and it's important to have a strong general manager in charge. Retail grocery veteran Peter Waldmann filled that role with aplomb for Food Shed Co-op, located in the Chicago exurb of Woodstock, which opened to the public last May.
The store's Board of Directors has announced that Peter is now moving on. In a newsletter sent to the store's 2,600 shareholders, they said:
It is with a bit of sadness that the Board of Directors announces the departure
of our General Manager, Peter Waldmann. Peter has decided to embrace a new chapter in life, moving closer to family on the East Coast. We owe a BIG debt of gratitude to Peter and his wife Amy. We expect him to be with the co-op until February. We wish Peter and Amy all the best — and we know the co-op would not be where it is today with the leadership and the guidance that Peter has given us during his tenure.
With Peter’s leadership, the co-op is very well prepared for this transition. It’s
comforting to know that the training and guidance he has given to our
managerial staff will allow the store to keep moving forward. The culture of
the store will not change – and your Board of Directors wants you to know
that it will be “business as usual." The doors will open every day just as they
have – and the store will continue to provide everyone the same level of
attention, quality foods, and remarkable service that you’re used to seeing
every day.
The Board has already started the search process and has engaged with our
broad network of co-op contacts. Rest assured that we have a plan in place.
We are already working hard to find someone to fill Peter’s shoes as quickly as
possible. Until then – we will continue to rely on the incredible team you see
every day in the store! These people will continue to uphold the culture and
values that makes the Food Shed so special.
We ask that you please reach out to Peter when you’re in the store and take a
moment to thank him for the time and energy he has given to the co-op.
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