Our System is Broke, But We Can Help Fix It.

As the effects of COVID 19 profoundly alter our lives and shake up the way we do almost everything, we are reminded that our current food system is unsustainable.

Many meat processing facilities across the nation are either closing down or rife with COVID 19 infections. Despite having some of the most fertile soil in the world, a large majority of produce sold in most Illinois grocery stores travels thousands of miles to get here while the profit these stores makes travels thousands of miles away from our community. And most of the food we buy at chain grocery stores are overly saturated with harmful chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, and other contaminants that have no business being in or on the food we and our families eat.

Environmentally, economically, and nutritiously- this system is unsustainable.

This is why food co-ops are important. We understand that supporting as much local food as possible is not only beneficial to OUR community, but having a vibrant, robust local food infrastructure protects us all from crises like we are experiencing now.

We have plenty of local farmers and food producers, but conventional grocery stores simply will not work with most of these small businesses. However, this is what food co-ops do best: providing a marketplace for locally and sustainably produced, clean, nutritious food.

But we can't do this until we can open our doors. This is why we need you to join the nearly 1100+ of your friends and neighbors who have already joined our ranks to realize our dream of building a community-Owned grocery store where we buy the food we want and a large majority of the profit stays here in our community. PFC Owners are the building blocks of what our grocery store will be and we cannot open without more of our community stepping up and becoming Owners.

We ask you to please step up for your community by becoming a Prairie Food Co-op Owner today.

Check out PFC's Ask a Chef with Culinary Confidante Series, a collection of all the Ask A Chef videos that covers a plethora of kitchen related topics that were originally presented live. Whether it be talking about pantry ingredients, spices, or ingredient substitution, Chef Crystal has you covered. We guarantee that you'll be informed and entertained.

May 19 2020

May 5 2020

April 28 2020

Chef Crystal of Culinary Confidante discusses ways that you can make the produce that you're already buying last longer. Crystal covers where to store your produce as well as what type of container it should be stored in. She also shares a few of her tips for regrowing foods right in your kitchen, no special equipment needed!

(Skip to 2:20 to get to the beginning of the show.)

April 14 2020

Ask a Chef: Salad Dressings

Check out Prairie Food Co-op's fourth installment of Ask of Chef with Culinary Confidante: Salad Dressings.
Using ingredients that you likely have in your pantry already, Chef Crystal discusses (and show us!) how to make a basic vinaigrette along with a few variations. Crystal also covers dressing pairings for different salads as well as how to make an emulsion. Not sure what an emulsion is? Check this out to learn more!

April 7 2020

Ask A Chef: Recipes- Tips, Substitutions & Improv 

Join chef Crystal of Culinary Confidante for part three of our Ask a Chef series where she talks about recipes. In this installment she covers the basics of following a recipe as well as what to look for when browsing recipes online including how to know if you’ve found a good recipe. Crystal also discusses recipe adjustments and substitutions- especially helpful during this time of limited grocery shopping. Check it out!

March 31 2020

Ask A Chef: Spices with Culinary Confidante

Watch Crystal of Culinary Confidante walk through her spice cabinet and discuss what to do with certain spices as well as which spices to regularly keep on hand. This was very fun and very informative. We also got to witness Crystal deal with a potential disaster like a pro. Come for the information, stay for the fun!

  Rosemary and Jeans is a fresh, casual restaurant. This beautiful white house on Main Street is the perfect place for families to gather for an affordable, scratch made meal. With a subtle nod to their Northern Italian family, simple pastas, fresh salads and classic entrees- complimented with some American favorites- will please each generation of your family.

  Babcock's Grove House is an intimate Lombardian-family-owned and operated restaurant located in the heart of downtown Lombard, IL. Babcock's offers a hybrid service style, quick counter service by day, relaxed full service at night. All menu items are made from scratch daily using primarily local, seasonal ingredients. 

Fringe A Boutique Salon is a family of hair specialists who are passionate professionals committed to delivering the finest salon experience in our chic, soothing space. Fringe is located in downtown Lombard, yet with a ‘City’ Salon feel.

  Ruff Life is a family-owned all-natural pet supply shop committed to serving their community by providing the highest quality food & treats around. Their edibles will always be free from wheat, corn, soy & by-products so you can give the best to your best friend.

   Pick one of 3 wines (Californina Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Syrah, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc). All wines  are crafted by Michelle Coppedge, PFC Owner and Lombardian, from award winning vineyard wine kits. The fun name of Wubby Wine is an ode to her love of dogs, particularly her previous Pug Stubby, aka Wubby. We hope you can enjoy these delicious wines over the holidays!

   Marche, located at 496 Main St. in Glen Ellyn, offers cheese, charcuterie, wines, craft beers, spirits and a distinctive array of complements. There are cheese plates, sandwiches and lunch boxes to eat in, share or take home; and artfully arranged cheese and charcuterie boards for parties and special occasions. 

Alter Brewing Company is a craft beer brewery located in Downers Grove, IL.  Alter welcomes all people interested in unique craft beers and its vibrant culture to come and share the experience with others who share your passion for delicious beer, amazing company, music and of course… fun.

Righteous Kitchen believes that a great meal, like great Rock & Roll, should make you pump your fist and raise your lights too. They want you to experience the flavors, the excitement, the smells of a positively righteous meal prepared fresh each day just for you! 

Yoga & Ayurveda is a local community based studio that is grounded in the traditional 8 limb path of yoga. Their teachers teach their own style and create their own sequences. They offer Vinyasa, Prenatal, Iyengar, Therapeutic, 50+, evening and early morning classes.

MORE Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Villa Park that specializes in NE style ales, sours and stouts as well as offering a full menu of unique and delicious appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and entree items. 

Brewpoint Coffee not only provides freshly roasted coffee & pastries but they are a company that creates and empowers authentic community spaces through their coffee. 

Paradiso encourages effortless style, a memorable experience and a brand to bond all types of women together. Paradiso is a place to shop versatile, affordable fashions for all walks of life and gifts for the women who inspire you the most. Their mission is for you to be able to embrace your inner beauty and connect the joy of style to your authentic self.

Show your Owner pride with a yard sign and pique the curiosity of your neighbors.

You can be one short conversation away from recruiting another Owner!

We would like to see a sign in every yard, so we are gladly giving yard signs to every willing Owner. Each sign costs us about $10 to produce, so please consider making a donation on the next screen to help alleviate the cost to the co-op. However, if you can't pitch in right now, that's OK too. The important thing is helping us spread the Prairie Food word. 

Enter your address below and we will get a sign to your yard usually within a week! 

Volunteer