Healthy Self | Healthy Earth | Healthy CommUnity

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Since 2009, using food as medicine, we are energizing the economic, social and physical transformation of Chicago's foodshed. Our focus: communities hard hit by COVID-19, with low food access, and high morbidity and mortality rates.

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The Chicago foodshed includes the geographic area which produces the food for the Chicago area. The standard is if all aspects of a food's production occur within a 400 mile radius of where it is consumed, it is considered local.

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Clarify where we are within the Chicago foodshed

The term describes a region where food flows from the area that it is produced to the place where it is consumed, including the land it grows on, the route it travels, the markets it passes through, and the tables it ends up on

local food system, 

aim is for local producers to be able to serve the needs inside of 400 mile radius, peri-urban (urban, suburban and rural)

--from rural community of Pembroke township

--foods that are grown regeneratively, ushered north on the Historic food corridor (57 was called the food corridor, the highway we live off of)

--Historic foodshed (name the communities we are serving:

Historic context-- over the last 10 years-- South Side, Southland & West Side

Last year, (some pop-ups and some consistent): Pembroke Township; Southland--Harvey, Dixmore, Phoenix, Lynwood, Dolton, Ford Heights, Robbins; South Side--Roseland, Altgeild (right on Southern border of Chicago)

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Trolley locations--

Confirmed locations with FQHC's wellness van: Southland--Harvey, Dolton, Lynwood

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Confirmed locations for HFH

Southland-- Dixmore, Phoenix

West Side-- Garfield Park

South Side--Roseland, Altgeild (right on Southern border of Chicago)

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Unsure

Pembroke Township

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This Fall, the market is going mobile! We have secured a trolley and are preparing it for launch in mid-September. Sign up for our mailing list for the latest news!

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We bring affordable, high-quality, nutritious and culturally acceptable foods to communities in the Chicago area, and expand community awareness and accessibility of therapeutic foods:

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1) One-stop market, accepting SNAP: Regeneratively grown local produce, dry goods, teas, herbs, and additional produce.  

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2) Self-Care Consultations & Rx Bags: Market-goers receive a free consultation with Dr. Jifunza Wright or her Registered Nurse, where they review any existing health conditions and medications. Dr. Wright then works with each client to create their Self-Care Management Plan, and instructions on how to prepare the foods for maximum therapeutic value. Clients then create their personalized Rx Bag at the market!

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3) Rx Bags- Therapeutic Foods Series: At markets, we offer educational programs with demos to promote self-care, and knowledge of therapeutic foods.

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4) Local Partnerships: Everything that we do is in relationship, and we are grateful for our many wonderful partners. Local partnerships are a key way that we are building our local economy and food system.

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Logistics of the Relationships with the FQHCs

COVID requirements-- PPE required for all staff (minimum mask & gloves); 6 ft distancing between customers, among staff, and between customers and staff;

customers must maintain 6ft distancing from food & cannot touch the food until they purchase it; 

masks-- customers must have masks, will give out masks at the market (need to add all PPEs to master budget)

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Education on Plant Medicine/ Therapeutic Foods, Including Self-Care Demos

--online video database

--hand-outs at markets

future: add recipe database?

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Hand out cards to customers while they are waiting with the URL for the video, so they can watch that week's video while waiting in line (info that is timeless & has no geographic bounds;

**in future have an annual review of all Resource Database to ensure there are no updates, e.g. from new findings)

Consider making 5 two-minute videos--each with 1 practical piece of info Boosting Immunity in the Community for the market:

1) Intro--What is viral load/ why does immunity matter

2) Vitamin D-- why it matters/ what it does & how to get it it

2) 

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Common protocols e.g. high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol

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