The nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) presents the 12th season of its Glenwood Sunday Market, to be held at 1233-41 W. Pratt Blvd., every Sunday from June 6 to October 24 (closed on July 4), from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on the opening day, Sunday, June 6, from 8:50 – 9:00 a.m. For the 2021 market season, Glenwood Sunday Market will operate in a new collaborative partnership with the Loyola University Chicago School of Environmental Sustainability and its Loyola Farmers Market program.
Returning vendors include Bennisons, Finn’s Ranch, Hardin’s Family Farm, Katherine Anne Confections, Lyons Fruit Farm, pHlour Bakery, Phoenix Bean Tofu, River Valley, Stamper Cheese, That Pickle Guy, The Urban Canopy, Urban Tables, and Vangie’s Farm. Newly added this season are Blacksmith Acres Farm, Lesna Living Oil and Flour, Loyola University Chicago Urban Agriculture Program, Mike and Clare’s Farm, and Patyk Farm. Returning after a year’s hiatus are Mickii’s Desserts, Milwaukee Homegrown, and Mindful Baking.
The Market will continue to offer day-of shopping micro-grants to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers with LINK cards for making purchases at the market. The Market provides such grants through its Food Access Program, which is funded by donations from market supporters and grants, including a $10,000 grant received this year from The Experimental Station’s Link Up Illinois program. In preparation for the 2021 season, the Market is actively seeking donations to ensure all shoppers can afford to eat healthy food that is locally grown and produced. Donations can be made at https://tinyurl.com/GSMDonate.
The Market’s partnership with Loyola University Chicago enables Loyola University Chicago Urban Agriculture Program to join other vendors on site at this year’s Glenwood Sunday Market for the duration of the season, while the Loyola Farmers Market is on hiatus. In addition, the partnership will provide a comprehensive and in-person farmers market work experience for three student interns from the University, who will be compensated for their time.
Glenwood Sunday Market continues its walkthrough operation plan with managed capacity and a prescribed walking route. Market shoppers will enter on Pratt Blvd. and move towards an alley exit. In keeping with COVID cautionary measures, appropriate space will be ensured for social distancing. Face coverings will be required, plus stall sites will be sanitized regularly and hand sanitizers available at vendor stalls throughout the market site.
For the past 11 consecutive years, Glenwood Sunday Market has helped sustain the local food system and provided a significant revenue stream for local farmers and food producers. In 2020, the Market gave away thousands of dollars in microgrants to food-insecure shoppers and partnered with Food Not Bombs for a weekly food recovery program that gave away hundreds of pounds of healthy food to neighbors at no cost; 16 participating vendors served 12,000 shoppers via online and in-person sales.
Glenwood Sunday Market is a program of the nonprofit Rogers Park Business Alliance, with a vision to create an equitable, ethical and secure local food system. Composed entirely of farmers and food artisans that work within 200 miles of Rogers Park, the Market’s mission is to make sustainable, regionally produced foods accessible to the whole community. The Market is committed to economic, environmental and social sustainability in Rogers Park, the city and region. For more information, visit www.glenwoodsundaymarket.org.
Rogers Park Business Alliance (RPBA) is a nonprofit organization that has served Chicago’s diverse Rogers Park neighborhood for more than 25 years. RPBA works to cultivate and sustain a thriving economic environment in Rogers Park, serving businesses and residents with a variety of public events and business initiatives. RPBA programs include the GROW/PROGRESANDO entrepreneurial training program, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Rogers Park Business Alliance, annual Best of Rogers Park awards, Chalk Howard Street and Taste of Clark Street festivals, and the Glenwood Sunday Market farmers market. For more information, visit RPBA.org.