FOOD CO-OPS l There are just a handful of food co-ops in the Chicago area and most opened recently. So the 10th anniversary of Sugar Beet Co-op is worth celebrating

CRAFT SPIRITS l Copitas de Sol, an annual fundraiser for Chicago's National Museum of Mexican Art on July 27, features expertly curated mezcals and tequilas...

FOOD CO-OPS l Like many co-ops, Chicago's Wild Onion Market faced years of financial obstacles. That may have made the store's 1st anniversary party even sweeter...

SUSTAINABILITY l Chicago Innovation's Climate Summit on June 18. Bob Benenson of Local Food Forum will moderate a panel of experts on sustainable food and farming...

SOIL HEALTH l I'd learned a lot about cover crops and other natural soil supplements. But it wasn't until I attended a sheep shearing demo that I first heard about wool as a soil supplement

FOOD CO-OPS l The opening date announcement for Prairie Food Co-op is big news for community grocery fans in general, especially those in Chicago's western suburbs

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE l A longtime Chicago-area local food advocate is calling to replace a long-stymied airport plan with a regenerative farming research center

SUSTAINABILITY l An estimated 40 percent of all food in the US goes to waste, and much of that waste comes from grocery stores. Taken a leadership role, Chicago chain Mariano's has diverted more than 1 million tons for processing in Green Era's anaerobic digester

COMPOSTING l International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), which is coming up May 4 to 10, is a great opportunity to learn more about why composting is important. Illinois alone has more than 50 events planned

IN MEMORIAM l Farmers don't tend to be household names. But Herman Brockman, whose life of achievement ended on April 8 at age 90, is legendary to the community pursuing a better food system