Farmers, Local Small Business Owners among others are also invited to attend the Chicago Food Policy Summit on February 15
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is pleased to announce that applications for participation in the 2019 market are now online at chicagocitymarkets.us. All farmers, local artisans, small businesses and local food purveyors can download and submit their completed applications to sell their produce and locally-sourced and made food products and goods at markets throughout the city. Details and instructions are included in the application. The renewal deadline for returning farmers and vendors is March 11 and the deadline for all new applications is March 31.
Chicago City Markets sell fresh seasonal produce, flowers, prepared foods, unique Chicago-made products and rare finds – at Chicago’s longest running farmers market on Daley Plaza, the historic Maxwell Street Market and a dozen more community markets in neighborhoods across Chicago. A complete list of 2019 markets, along with dates and times, will be released later this spring online at chicagocitymarkets.us.
For new market applicants and Chicago-makers, on Monday, March 18, the Chicago City Markets team will host a workshop along with managers from the Logan Square Farmers Market and the Bronzeville Boxville Market to discuss the various markets throughout the city and the challenge of finding a market that fits your needs. The workshop will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington), 10–11:30 a.m., 5th Floor South, Millennium Park Room.
All vendors, returning and new, are encouraged to attend the 14th Annual Food Policy Summit on Friday, February 15, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Organized by the Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) in partnership with DCASE, the day-long event will feature workshops, speakers, hand-on activities, food demos, a food business clinic and a marketplace of resources and vendors. Food workers, farmers, vendors and local leaders are invited to reflect on the past year of efforts and accomplishments in food justice, including Cook County’s adoption of the Good Food Purchasing Policy, and collectively imagine how the food system can support health and equity for all. For more information, visit chicagofoodpolicy.com.
DCASE will present three panels designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the process and encourage minority owners to participate in the City Markets program, procurement contracts and other vending opportunities in Chicago.
- BACP 101–Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Panel Discussion
10:30 a.m.
Whether you are interested in starting a business in Chicago or have started one and are wondering what’s next, join experts from Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and get answer to all your questions. Navigating through the City’s permitting process doesn’t have to be scary. We discuss the most common questions asked and the mistakes frequently made when applying for licenses.
- Pop-up Markets–What do you need?
11:30 a.m.
In 2019, the City of Chicago has made it easy for owners of empty store fronts to host pop-up markets, also making it easier for vendors to sell at them! Come and learn more about this process, whether you are looking to sell merchandise or to host a selling event.
- Food Halls–A Conversation
1:30 p.m.
This panel discussion about the new food hall craze will include an entrepreneur who presently has a business at a food hall, an owner of a food hall and a building/property owner. The casual conversation will focus on trends and lessons learned.
Chicago City Markets take place in neighborhoods across the city from Division St. to Roseland, Downtown to Austin. For a complete list of Chicago City Markets open through November and year-round markets, visit chicagocitymarkets.us. Join the conversation on Facebook at Chicago City Markets, on Instagram @ChicagoCityMarkets and on Twitter @ChicagoDCASE (#ChicagoCityMarkets). For additional information about Maxwell Street Market, visit maxwellstreetmarket.us and follow us on Facebook at Maxwell Street Market.
The Chicago City Markets are produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and supported by COUNTRY Financial.
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.
