Local Food Forum Turns 5... New Paid Subscriptions Help Us Grow

20% of Anniversary Subscriber Proceeds Will Be Set Aside to Promote Food Access

Five years ago, after nearly a decade of working intensively on collective efforts to build a better food system, I decided it was time to start Local Food Forum — the only publication in the Chicago area (and one of a very few anywhere) focused on the issues and benefits of local food ecosystems.

And I decided to launch this niche publication on April 1, 2021. Yes, April Fool's Day. You can make your own judgments, but that means Wednesday is the 5th anniversary of this scrappy little publication.

There is a lot that I feel proud about. I believe that Local Food Forum has successfully promoted more interaction within our broad local food ecosystem, and has served as an important news source for both those actively involved in the sector and consumers who care deeply about food that is better for people and the planet.

There is much more that we could be doing. One of my unfulfilled goals is to build upon our highly Chicago region-centric base and connect with other local food ecosystems around the nation so we can learn from each other.

But for this to happen, Local Food Forum needs more financial resources. That is why I am, for the first time in a long time, making this direct ask for new paid subscribers.

Since this is the 5th anniversary, let's talk in fives:

• You can subscribe to Local Food Forum for as little as $5 per month.

• The base annual subscription price is $50 (though $100 subscribers are very much welcome).

• And perhaps most important, I will set aside 20 percent of proceeds from new subscriptions — that's one-fifth! — for donations to an organization or organizations that promote greater access to locally and sustainably produced food.

I'm sure this promotion will likely not have mass appeal, but any new paid subscription will help make Local Food Forum more... sustainable!

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL FOOD FORUM