What started as a vision years ago for a locally sourced, non-corporate, community-run grocery store will soon become a reality.
Wild Onion Market, a food co-op that will soon open near South Evanston, is a grocery store owned and operated by members of the Evanston community. Wild Onion Board of Directors President Jillian Jason said the business is focused on providing accessible and sustainable food as well as fostering a market environment centered around the consumer.
For the past five years, Wild Onion has recruited community members to purchase a $250 lifelong ownership, which grants them and their immediate household one vote in electing the co-op’s board of directors, in addition to other benefits.
The city relaunched its Sustain Evanston business recognition program and announced residents will be able to sign up for Community Solar to use solar energy without having to pay an installation fee, according to a Monday newsletter.
Both initiatives will help Evanston advance on its Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which strives to make Evanston carbon neutral by 2050
CARP also has smaller benchmark goals to keep the city on track. It aims for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, and for the city to divert 50 percent of waste out of landfills from 2017 levels.
Sustain Evanston encourages businesses to reduce their environmental impact, recognizing sustainable businesses with a storefront decal. Each recognized business also receives $350 to help offset costs associated with meeting the program requirements. The program previously recognized 17 businesses in 2019, including Kombucha Brava, Backlot Coffee and Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse.
The Downtown Evanston Farmers’ Market opened its 46th season on Saturday after local businesses cultivated product lineups, outlined COVID-19 policies and packed trucks.
The market will run Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. from now until Nov. 6 at the corner of University Place and Oak Avenue. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19, it will be open from 7 to 7:30 a.m. to seniors and immunocompromised shoppers.
Manager Myra Gorman said the market is implementing the same COVID-19 procedures used in 2020, including a no-touch market, handwashing stations, masking and social distancing.
Gorman said the Link program, which provides individuals who qualify for food stamps increased buying power in the market, will continue to be helpful cost-saving measures.
An Evanston staple is about to get funkier, fresher and faster.
Derek Gaspar, owner of The Lucky Platter, is prioritizing his staff’s wellbeing and restaurant sustainability with the launch of The Platter Pantry, a new grab-and-go section that will serve a variety of unique and local products.
The pantry will include some basic produce, soups, salads, niche snacks, unique drinks and frozen meals, along with some of the diner’s staples, namely their featured breakfast pastries apricot cheese flakies. Additionally, Gaspar is excited to feature outside brands, including Kombucha Brava and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
Gaspar plans to open the pantry in mid to late February in a build-out expansion, which is complete. He hopes the pantry will not only benefit the community, but also allow his staff to work more hours as the pandemic continues to take a toll on the restaurant industry.