Crop Circles Food Desert Campaign Enters Chicago
CHICAGO, Aug. 19, 2015 -- Tessemae's All Natural, in collaboration with Whole Foods Market® and Garden Highway will be hosting a major pop-up farmers market called "Crop Circles." Crop Circles will be serving free fresh produce to an estimated 2,500 local residents on Saturday, August 22nd, from10am-3pm at TEAM Englewood Academy. Other partners include, The Gardeneers, Chicago Eco House, Growing Home, and Growing Power. There will be activities, live entertainment, and most importantly, educational workshops.
Crop Circles is a national campaign, designed to help elevate the national food desert predicament through solution-based ideas and bring meaningful change to those in need of healthy nutrition.
"Tessemae's All Natural is proud to have our Crop Circles campaign come to Chicago. Mayor Emanuel has been committed to addressing the needs of residents in food desert neighborhoods in Chicago to access fresh produce. And we believe that our commitment of supporting health awareness initiatives and providing access to quality produce in food deserts compliments those efforts within the City of Chicago." -Greg Vetter, CEO.
"Providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Chicago residents that live in food desert areas continues to be a priority for the City of Chicago and I am pleased that these organizations are stepping up to provide not only free food, but educational programming and cooking demonstrations to the Englewood community," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Over the last three years, Mayor Emanuel has opened eight new grocery stores in underserved areas and another five are planning to open soon, as well as expanded 18 existing stores to offer fresh produce. City-operated farmers markets have nearly doubled since 2011, with a 60 percent increase in the number of markets accepting SNAP. The City also created a new business license to allow the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables at free-standing produce stands throughout low-income areas of the city. Through these efforts, the number of low income Chicagoans living in food deserts has declined by 40 percent.
Local chefs originally from Englewood will head the educational workshops, which will demonstrate to residents how to cook simple meals using the produce provided. The event will serve as an incredible happening for the people of Englewood, a resilient group who have strongly expressed their voices in improving the neighborhood.
About Tessemae's All Natural
Tessemae's All Natural is an organic condiment company that makes salad dressing and condiments with real, whole, source food ingredients. The Vetter brothers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods Market in Annapolis, Maryland, using a simple recipe created and used by their mom throughout their childhood. Tessemae's commitment to healthy eating and living is the core of their mission, to provide simple, yet delicious food to consumers made with real ingredients. Available in Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Safeway, The Fresh Market, and Earthfare retailers across the country, Tessemae's products are creating a new category in salad dressings and raising consumer awareness on the importance of consuming real, clean ingredients. For more information please visit www.tessemaes.com.
About Garden Highway
Garden Highway is a family of talented people who share a passion for great food and a dedication to excellence. Their mission is to create simple, convenient, fresh products for today's consumer. At GH, they are living their vision of building a national, fresh perishable food company with production facilities strategically located across the country. Their products are regionally produced, made to order, and delivered "Just-in-Time" to your distribution centers.
About Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company's more than 90,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 17 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had sales of more than $14 billion and currently has more than 427 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.