Support for a Maturing Food System

The Chicago region’s food system has matured. No longer working in “start-up” mode, the people who make up the system understand challenges, solutions, and where to experiment next.

Organizations and businesses have matured, shifting to fill niches when necessary, stepping back when others are ready to step in.

Individuals, too, have taken leadership roles, forged new and fruitful connections, and participated in a web of mentorships and support roles.

Collaborative Approaches

FLO works closely with other funders and impact investors through its membership and leadership in organizations such as Fresh Taste, to strategically pool funding and create a flow of support dollars that is broader, strategic, and more efficient.

Originally responding to the severe disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago Region Food System Fund (CRFSF) builds on the strong structural support of Fresh Taste. Both FLO and CRFSF are national models.

Innovative Solutions

FLO is unafraid of risk and experimentation, which provides space to support evolving needs within the food system.

When it was clear that access to capital for food and farm businesses was a major need within the system, FLO researched and developed a new model of impact investing, which became Proofing Station. Proofing Station is a non-profit, impact-first investment fund focused on increasing access to capital for small and mid-sized food enterprises in the Midwest.

With Proofing Station, FLO’s reach extends to new parts of the larger food system.