The Good Food Marketplace has been the centerpiece of the Good Food EXPO since it launched in 2004. This will again be the case at the 15th Anniversary Good Food EXPO, March 22-23 at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. You will be able to sample and buy products from many of the Midwest’s best food and farm producers.

We invited EXPO vendors to submit their answers to five questions. The following are the responses we received from three of them. You can purchase tickets for the Good Food Trade Show on Friday, March 22. The Good Food Festival on Saturday, March 23 is free, but pre-registration is requested.

There is still time to register to exhibit if you have a Good Food business or organization. Access a registration form at the Good Food EXPO site, and contact Lisette@staging.dependable-jargon.flywheelsites.com if you have any questions.

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MadeGood

Granola Snacks and Soft-Baked Cookies

Family Farmed: Elevator pitch time: Tell us in a few sentences what your business does and why.

MadeGood: MadeGood® is our family business and passion, and the inspiration came out of our life-long relationship with healthy food. Whether for breakfast or for a snack, our MadeGood products offer a nutritious and flavorful taste that you will love. Choose from a variety of products and flavors including Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate Banana, Chocolate Chip, Mixed Berry and Strawberry. We manufacture in a nut-free facility and our products are free from most common allergens, are organic, and contain nutrients equivalent to a serving of vegetables. 

FamilyFarmed: We define Good Food as delicious, produced as locally as possible, using sustainable, humane and fair practices. How does your business relate to this definition?

Made Good: Supporting organic farmers is integral to all MadeGood operations and manufacturing processes, because we care about making food that is good for people and the environment. We’re proud of our efforts to become an accredited Zero Waste production facility and are always looking for opportunities that demonstrate our commitment to further minimizing our footprint on this planet. MadeGood is a B Corp brand. The happiness of our people and the health of the planet factor in to every decision we make, and are valued as much as profit. 

FamilyFarmed: What do you view as the strongest short-term opportunities for your company or organization, what (if any) do you see as obstacles that need to be overcome?

MadeGood: We are working to expand our product offerings, such as our new line of soft-baked cookies. Our customers trust us to provide their families with safe, great-tasting products with exceptional nutrition, and we will continue looking for new ways to do so. 

FamilyFarmed: In what years have you exhibited at the EXPO, and how did the experience(s) persuade you to join us again? What do you hope to gain as a result of your participation this year?

MadeGood: 2018 – we met a lot of great consumers last year and sampled our products widely! We are continuously trying to spread brand awareness and hope to share our product with even more people this year. 

FamilyFarmed: Finally, do you market locally, regionally or nationally, and where can we find your products?

MadeGood: We market nationally: Whole Foods Market , selected CVS and Kroger stores, Amazon. Please visit our website to find a store near you!  https://madegoodfoods.com/us/buy/

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Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks

Home-delivered locally produced food

FamilyFarmed: Elevator pitch time: Tell us in a few sentences what your business does and why.

Fresh Picks: Fresh Picks aggregates food from local organic and sustainable farmers in the Midwest and delivers fresh produce, meats, dairy, eggs and grocery items to individual households as well as chefs, groceries, businesses and institutions. We work hard with our farm partners in the Fresh Picks Farmer Alliance to build a better local food system that supports our farmers, improves the environment and benefits our health. Our efforts have yielded millions of dollars to farmers and thousands of pounds of fresh food to consumers as we create efficiencies in post-harvest handling, transportation, distribution and traceability to connect everyone with the best farms in the region.

FamilyFarmed: We define Good Food as delicious, produced as locally as possible, using sustainable, humane and fair practices. How does your business relate to this definition?

Fresh Picks: Our business completely supports this Good Food definition!

FamilyFarmed:What do you view as the strongest short-term opportunities for your company or organization, what (if any) do you see as obstacles that need to be overcome?

Fresh Picks: We believe there are significant opportunities for us to sell more local farm products in the Chicagoland area and help our farmers grow and diversify their revenue streams. The biggest obstacle is lack of awareness and commitment by more consumers to buy local as part of their weekly food purchases.

FamilyFarmed: In what years have you exhibited at the EXPO, and how did the experience(s) persuade you to join us again? What do you hope to gain as a result of your participation this year?

Fresh Picks: Fresh Picks has been an exhibitor since 2006! We find it valuable to connect with others interested in and committed to local food, and to spread the word about our service.

FamilyFarmed:Finally — do you market locally, regionally or nationally and where can we find your products (or get involved with your cause)?

Fresh Picks: We sell farm products in 250 zip codes throughout the Chicagoland area. Our local products are sold through our online grocery portal www.freshpicks.com for home delivery, and in a growing number of grocery stores, retailers and restaurants including Plum Market, Mariano’s, True Juice and Sugar Beet Co-op.

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Somers Family MustKetch

Condiments that blend mustard, ketchup and spices

FamilyFarmed:Elevator pitch time: Tell us in a few sentences what your business does and why.

Somers Family MustKetch: Somers Family MustKetch is a clean-label condiment that is much more than mustard and ketchup. A unique blend of spices make up three craveable flavors: Original, Smoke and Zesty. Uses include dipping, dressing, marinade, mix and topping.

FamilyFarmed: We define Good Food as delicious, produced as locally as possible, using sustainable, humane and fair practices. How does your business relate to this definition?

Somers Family MustKetch: Our products are manufactured locally in Melrose Park, Illinois. We use all-natural and some organic ingredients. Our products are free of artificial preservatives and colors, high fructose corn syrup and GMO, and are Gluten-Free.

FamilyFarmed: What do you view as the strongest short-term opportunities for your company or organization, what (if any) do you see as obstacles that need to be overcome?

Somers Family MustKetch:Our short-term opportunities are currently selling our product on Amazon and a few Chicago small grocery stores. Our obstacles are slating in our product at larger Chicago area grocery chains, securing national distribution and driving awareness.

FamilyFarmed: How did you learn about the Good Food EXPO? What do you hope to gain as a result of your participation?

Somers Family MustKetch: Lisette Medina [FamilyFarmed’s events manager and Good Food EXPO producer] stopped by our table at the Bloody Mary Fest and informed us of the EXPO. She reached out via email to provide further information.

FamilyFarmed: Finally — do you market locally, regionally or nationally and where can we find your products (or get involved with your cause)?

Somers Family MustKetch: We market nationally for sales on Amazon. Once we have local distribution, we will execute a marketing plan to drive awareness and purchase in the Chicago area.

We invited EXPO vendors to submit their answers to five questions. The following are the responses we received from three of them. You can purchase tickets for the Good Food Trade Show on Friday, March 22. The Good Food Festival on Saturday, March 23 is free, but pre-registration is requested.

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