About Our Mission
Creating resilient local food systems for Chicago by connecting communities directly with ethical producers within 100 miles.
We're tackling a broken food system through information access, transparency, and building strong, independent communities.
Our Story & Mission
Community FarmTable was born from a stark realization: the American food system is fundamentally broken. We've witnessed countless examples of food traveling unnecessarily long distances while better alternatives exist locally, creating environmental damage and disconnection from our food sources.
Corporate interests control grocery prices through manufactured scarcity while influencing government policies that sometimes pay farmers not to farm. Meanwhile, hardworking Americans simply want to go to work and know they're being taken care of with honest, quality food.
Our mission is to create resilient, independent communities by strengthening local food systems. We connect consumers with farms within roughly 100 miles of Chicago, with occasional exceptions for exceptional providers who meet our rigorous standards.
We're as much in the information access business as we are in local food logistics. We aim to be that singular source you can trust for the highest food standards, making it easy to see who meets them on our platform while also providing links to other local providers.
Our Core Values
Resilient Communities
We believe strong, independent local communities are the foundation of a healthy society and economy.
Radical Transparency
We provide complete information about food sources, standards, and practices so you can make truly informed choices.
True Food Freedom
We fight for your right to access honest, ethical food directly from local producers who care about their craft and community.
How Community FarmTable Works
Our platform makes it simple to discover, connect with, and purchase from local farms and food producers while building stronger, more resilient communities.
We're both an information platform and a logistics network, giving you access to transparent information about food sources while creating direct connections between producers and consumers.
For Consumers
- 1.
Browse local farms and producers within 100 miles of Chicago
- 2.
Filter by product type, farming practices, or delivery options
- 3.
Order directly through our platform with secure checkout
- 4.
Schedule pickup or delivery that works for you
For Producers
- 1.
Create a detailed producer profile to showcase your farm
- 2.
List products with your own pricing and availability
- 3.
Manage orders and communicate with customers
- 4.
Set your own delivery/pickup options and schedule
Information Access
- 1.
Comprehensive producer directory with transparency ratings
- 2.
Links to all local food sources, even those not on our platform
- 3.
Education on food system issues and community resilience
- 4.
Tools to organize community food purchasing and distribution
Join the Food Independence Movement
The corporate food system is broken, but together we can build something better -- community by community.
Community FarmTable stands for transparency, resilience, and direct connections between the people who grow our food and those who eat it. We're building a platform that prioritizes information access and local relationships over corporate profits and manufactured scarcity.