“We’re thrilled to see Illinois organizations stepping up to build stronger food pathways between our farms and our schools,” said Gary Cuneen, Executive Director at Seven Generations Ahead, the Innovation Hub’s Illinois partner. “These projects are about making school meals more local, more delicious and more connected to the communities they serve.”
Morrison Healthcare is proud to announce that Northside Hospital Cherokee, Regional Executive Chef George Sigeti and sustainability partner The Common Market have received the 2026 CleanMed Sustainability in Action Video Award.
Chef George accepted the award at CleanMed’s annual Conference for Sustainability in Healthcare, held in St. Louis in May. Heather Farkas, Director of Sustainability at Morrison Healthcare, said partnerships like this demonstrate how healthcare organizations can support both patient well-being and environmental stewardship.
Designed last year with busy college students in mind, it offers a weekly box of six to eight seasonal produce items sourced from local farms, along with easy-to-follow recipes to help students make use of ingredients they may be unfamiliar with.
At the heart of Hopkins Dining's local sourcing strategy is a partnership with The Common Market, a mission-drive nonprofit distributor that connects institutions with local small & midsized farms. For universities seeking a reliable way to incorporate local food into large-scale operations, The Common Market proves to be a powerful and pragmatic solution.
Jeremy Logan serves as Executive Director of the Texas division of The Common Market, one of the nation’s premier food hub organizations, with hubs in four regions — Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, and Great Lakes. The Texas hub contracts with more than 30 farms to provide for food-insecure families in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Those purchases also help keep farmers solvent and expand their businesses.
The Common Market Great Lakes, $100,000 - The Common Market Great Lakes will build-out a commercial 90′ x 45′ freezer that will aid capacity for area farmers’ products, bolster local farm/food hub infrastructure, scale local food, and create a shared resource for partners.
Aramark Healthcare+ and Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital partnered with The Common Market Texas, a nonprofit food distributor that connects small and mid-sized farms to institutional buyers, to provide fresh, seasonal produce, quality proteins and artisanal dairy — ingredients that bring vibrant flavors to traditional recipes and connect diners to local farms.
114. The Common Market, United States
By connecting regional farmers with institutions like schools and hospitals, The Common Market strengthens local economies and expands access to nutritious, sustainably grown food. By advancing forward purchasing commitments for small and mid-scale farms, the organization hopes to rebuild regional food systems in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, and Great Lakes region of the U.S.
As Thanksgiving draws near and many of us begin thinking about what will fill our tables, Director of Dining and Wellness Jennifer Bostedo is already thinking several steps ahead – about how to bring the freshness of New Jersey’s fall harvest directly to Montclair State University’s campus. For her, food is more than a meal plan; it’s a way to connect students to local farms, sustainable eating and the flavors of the season.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board recently approved more than $20.6 million in grant awards to 50 organizations under the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) Pilot Program. The awards are the first set of approvals under the $30 million FEED NJ program and will support food security projects in New Jersey’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs), catalyzing innovative, sustainable, and scalable food access initiatives in underserved areas. The total funding of $30 million is one of the largest investments in recent years dedicated to strengthening New Jersey’s food security infrastructure.
Our friendly and educated team is here to partner with you every step of the way. Connect today to learn of all the ways to partner with The Common Market.
"What I most appreciate is the consistency of the produce. I have yet to experience wilted lettuce or incorrect sizing of products and this is something difficult to find with the “big box” companies. I also appreciate Common Market's passion for developing relationships between the farmers and the chefs."
— Mike Bacha, Executive Chef, Emory University Hospital