Politics
Chicago to seek locations for year-round markets under new food-access plan
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Market City Action Plan prioritizes underserved South and West Side neighborhoods and aims to support local food businesses, farmers markets and indoor markets. The city plans to seek public input on possible sites and operators within a month.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a plan Thursday, Oct. 22, to expand food access by supporting neighborhood food businesses and developing a network of year-round indoor public markets, with priority attention to the South and West sides.
The Market City Action Plan would create city infrastructure to connect food entrepreneurs with resources, strengthen existing farmers markets and help establish indoor markets. Johnson also signed an executive order creating a steering committee of city departments and community members to guide the work. Aaliayah Romer, the city’s manager of food equity, will lead the initiative.
The mayor’s office said the city expects to issue a Request for Information within the next month to identify potential market locations and operators. The city has not decided whether it would own or run the markets, Johnson said; it could instead provide support to other operators.
The plan follows years of debate over how the city should address gaps in grocery access. Johnson proposed a city-owned grocery store in 2023, then shifted toward public markets after a feasibility study and discussions with residents and food-system groups.
“After a very thoughtful and a more thorough engagement over the last several years, listening to people, we heard loud and clear that the entrepreneur spirit of Chicagoans wanted their efforts to be strengthened,” Johnson said Thursday. He said the city intends to build on food businesses and organizations already active in neighborhoods.
Food access remains a major concern in parts of the city. A report released this year by the Greater Chicago Food Depository found that 51% of South Side households, 45% of West Side households and 41% of Southwest Side households were food insecure and lacked consistent access to enough food.
The plan was developed over the past year with the Chicago Food Equity Council, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and community participants, including residents, farmers, entrepreneurs and market operators. Ruby Ferguson, the food depository’s senior director of community engagement, said residents could see early effects through increased support for farmers markets during the 2027 season, potentially including financial or marketing assistance.
The announcement comes after the collapse of a city-backed grocery redevelopment deal with Save A Lot operator Yellow Banana. The company closed its seven stores about a year after they opened. In August, the city announced $450,000 in microgrants for existing grocers and markets through its Neighborhood Market Grant Program.