ANIMAL WELFARE l Exposés about inhumane conditions on many factory farms have shocked the majority of Americans who tell pollsters that they care about animal welfare. Sustainable farmers from across the US recently lobbied members of Congress to oppose inhumane practices.

FOOD EDUCATION AND LOCAL FARMS l Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) is an extraordinary Chicago charter school with a better-for-people-and-the-planet focus. They are seeking to connect with local farms to purchase more healthy, sustainable produce for students and faculty

RESTAURANTS l A rising interest in catered meals spurred Chicago's famed One Off Hospitality restaurant group to start a catering unit with a stand-alone commissary

FOOD CO-OPS l If Matt Weschler should ever want to produce a documentary about his tenure as general manager of Chicago's Wild Onion Market co-op, he could do it himself...

FARMERS MARKETS l The full-scale Chicago region outdoor farmers market season is so close you could almost... taste it. That's why we're launching our market schedule