A few weeks back, we got a chance to have a long chat with Ann Wright, Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Wright was speaking at the Family Farmed Expo, promoting a new USDA initiative, "Know your Farmer, Know your Food" that works to promote local and regional innovations in American agriculture. Wright was an advocate for organic and sustainable agriculture and an agriculture advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid before she was appointed to her current post, and has been at the USDA for almost two years. We talked with Wright about what the federal government can do to promote sustainable agriculture, the USDA's sometimes-troubled history with small farms and her belief that large-scale change in the way we farm and eat has already begun. more ›

Less than 1% of the pork produced in the United States is sustainably raised. As more and more of us begin to care about sustainable meat production, that number becomes scarier and scarier - but what can be done? Last weekend, during the Family Farmed Expo, I attended a workshop that I wish the entire city of Chicago could have seen. Paul Kahan (Publican), Rob Levitt (Butcher and Larder), Bartlett Durand (Black Earth Meats) and Herb Eckhouse (La Quercia ) told us how they - carnivores all - help to make our meat production system more sustainable, and offered tips to consumers who care. more ›

If you're a food lover and you weren't at Family Farmed Expo on Saturday, you'd better have a darn good excuse. The Expo, which showcased chefs, farmers, producers and retailers over three days, opened to the public on Saturday for a blow-out event. The delicious extravaganza also included chef demos and workshops, appearances by local celebs, and a lot of great samples. Most of all, the Expo had a great sense of community and purpose - a gathering of people who care about great food, local farmers and protecting the environment. more ›

Ever contemplated the logistics of raising your own chickens in the city? Or wanted advice on how to enjoy local and organic food without wrecking your budget? If so, last Saturday’s Local Food Festival at UIC Forum, part of the 3-day Family Farmed Expo, was the place to be. The expert-led workshops included topics like “Drinking Farm to Glass”, offering tips on choosing beverages that sustain the community, and “Local and Organic Eating on a Dime”, demonstrating how to eat healthy organic food on a budget. The lively “Backyard Chickens” workshop featured a panel of inspiring chicken keepers sharing secrets to raising urban chickens (a legal practice in Chicago), including choosing the right breed, construction of pen and coop, and appeasing your weary neighbors with fresh eggs. more ›

The annual FamilyFarmed Expo has outgrown the confines of its old host, the Chicago Cultural Center, and will go down march 11-13 at the brand spanking new UIC Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Rd.). more ›

The farmers markets are heading indoors with the coming of winter. The Family Farmed EXPO 2008, held this weekend at the Cultural Center, is an annual event featuring an indoor farmers market, seminars on the food to table movement, exhibitions and cooking demonstrations. more ›