Green City Market Fulton Opens Saturday, August 9

    CHICAGO, IL, August 07, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Green City Market, Chicago's premiere sustainable farmer's market, opens its new additional outdoor location at Fulton Market this Saturday, August 9. To be known as Green City Market Fulton, hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through October at the corners of Halsted and Fulton Market streets in the parking lot at 222 N. Halsted St. There is public parking on the east side of the street at 221 N. Halsted for $6.

Twenty vendors selling organic and sustainable produce, vegetables and other goods are expected at the first market. The growing Fulton Market District/West Loop is one of Chicago's most popular and fastest growing neighborhoods. "The Green City Market board and staff are thrilled and excited to have been recommended in the Fulton Market Innovation District Plan and that we have been invited to pilot a Green City Market in this neighborhood," said Mark Psilos, associate director of the Green City Market. "We're hoping that we can use this as an opportunity to transition into a year-round indoor location in the area."

Peaches Green City Market 3300 Green City Market is a perfect market partner for the District. We have a 16-year proven history in Lincoln Park. We are excited for the farmers to have an opportunity to increase the flow of local food to the community," said Sarah Stegner and Vi Daley, co-chairs of the Green City Market board.

Confirmed vendors include:

Amazing Shrimp
Bennison's Bakery
Brunkow Cheese
Bushel & Peck's
Ellis Family Farms
Genesis Growers
Green Acres
Heartland Meats
Hillside Orchards
Iron Creek Organics
Leaning Shed Farm
Mick Klug Farm
Mint Creek
Nichols Farm & Orchard
Nordic Creamery
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery
River Valley Ranch and Kitchens
Seedling
The Flower Garden

The mission of Green City Market is to improve the availability of a diverse range of high quality foods,Carrots Green City Market 4300 connecting local producers and farmers to chefs, restaurateurs, food organizations and the public, and supporting small family farms while promoting a healthier society through education and appreciation for local, fresh, sustainably raised produce and products.

Green City Market has been a destination for locals and visitors to Chicago since its inception in 1998. Last year, Green City Market's Lincoln Park location broke attendance records, drawing some 10,000 people weekly on Saturdays and 3,000 plus on Wednesdays.

Green City Market has consistently been named in the top 10 of the nation's best farmers markets by national publications such as Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, Shape, CNN, Huffington Post and US News, among others. The organization recently published its first cookbook, The Green City Market Cookbook, featuring recipes from chefs, restaurateurs and market customers. The cookbook is available at both Green City Market locations as well as on its website.

For more information, visit Green City Market's website at http://www.greencitymarket.org or call 773-880-1266.

Green City Market is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization celebrating our 16th anniversary. The mission of Green City Market is to provide a marketplace for purchasing sustainably grown food and to educate, promote and connect farmers and local producers directly to chefs, restaurateurs and the greater Chicago community. Green City Market values education about quality food and its source. We value farmers who take care of the land; the preservation of sustainably farmed land; a vibrant thriving community of local farms; and consumption of locally grown foods

Green City Market showcases sustainable practices. From that first year in 1998 next to the Chicago Theatre to the present time, Green City Market has morphed into Chicago's most vital farmer's market that industry leader Alice Waters calls "the best sustainable market in the country."

Green City Market's (GCM) incredible momentum comes from our broad base of support including conscientious and caring farmers and producers, consumers, chefs, restaurateurs and other culinary professionals. It also reflects Chicagoans' increasing concern for a more sustainable food system by improving the quality of food on our table produced by local farmers using organic and sustainable practices that preserves the environment for future generations. GCM's support of these local artisan farmers and producers increases the density of fresh, high-quality, locally produced food in Chicago, and provides the basis for a regional cuisine.

After visiting European sustainable farmer's markets in 1998, Abby Mandel, chef, author and entrepreneur, returned to Chicago determined to create a similar market in her own city. Green City Market was her brainchild and began as a small startup with nine local farmers in the crosswalk next to the Chicago Theatre. The Market quickly outgrew the location and moved to the south end of Lincoln Park where it currently operates May - October. Four years ago, the Market continued to remain open November - December, first in the Lincoln Park Zoo and later moving to The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

The Market experienced record crowds closing 2013 with 8000 to 10,000 visitors each Saturday and 2000 to 3000 visitors on Wednesdays. From January - April, Green City Market operates in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum each Saturday. Weekly market attendance year round has increased steadily since April of 2009 when the market began opening throughout the winter as consumers continue to seek out and buy locally grown food directly from the farmers. Green City Market provides this opportunity year round.

# # #