Fresh Beats & Eats Concludes 2nd Year
After several months of spring and summer fun, IMAN’s weekly farmers market—Fresh Beats & Eats—ended its second year with a robust closing event. Nearly 100 community members visited the market on October 21, enjoying an extended live music performance by the Tubad & The Nation, an expanded lineup of some of Chicago’s freshest food vendors, and free gift bags stocked with healthy groceries. Walgreen’s representatives also administered complimentary flu shots on site.
Fresh Beats & Eats was able to begin rooting itself in the fabric of Marquette Park community life this year, with many residents becoming “regulars” and utilizing the market for their weekend shopping; while others came simply to sit, enjoy the sunshine and connect with neighbors. The arts, particularly music, truly reflected the vibrancy of the community, with homegrown talent performing everything from Latin jazz to soul classics to funk-filled grooves.
Perhaps the market’s greatest success this year was its establishment as a source of low-cost, high-quality foods in an area lacking in such offerings. Fresh Beats & Eats was able to partner with Illinois’ WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and LINK food assistance programs, which aided many residents in purchasing locally grown, organic produce from Urban Canopy each week. The community response was overwhelmingly positive, with many guests expressing their appreciation for the safety and dignity they felt while at the market.
IMAN thanks the long list of vendors and partners that helped make this Fresh Beats & Eats season successful. All vendors were local to Chicago, with many of them residing in the Southwest Side community. We also greatly thank the individuals and families who visited the market every week, see you next year!