Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Flynn.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Like most people, I didn’t grow up thinking I would run a farmers market. But, as I look back, there have been many moments through my life that have lead me to here. As a little kid, I remember stopping by a farm stand in the summer. This was on the side of the road, literally, in a suburb of Chicago. It had a couple of tables and fields right behind the tables. I was fascinated that the food was grown right there, picked there and handed to me, I still remember the smell of cantaloupe! I remember feeling really upset when the stand was gone and the land was developed (probably into a strip mall or subdivision.) Many years later, I was lucky enough to be an exchange student in Rome. I distinctly remember being handed a freshly-picked strawberry. Even now, my mouth waters thinking about it. It was the best strawberry I ever had and tasted nothing like the strawberries I ate at home. I noticed that, often while I was there, the vibrant taste and textures of the food I was eating. After college, I found myself being drawn to jobs that involved community building in a variety of ways. Without really thinking about why, I started a community garden and an evening farmers market because I believed those two things would provide a place for the community to gather and connect. As I married and had children, connecting with neighbors continued to grow in importance to me. Our youngest child was born with five food allergies, and now food became an essential focus in my life again. When the Executive Director position became available with Green City Market, it suddenly seemed a perfect way for me to combine the things I love in life, community and food. It has been a privilege to work at Green City Market. I truly get to know the farmers that grow the food that I feed my family, the volunteers who willingly give so much of their time, and the shoppers who care about food, the vendors and each other. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m not sure anyone has a smooth road. There are always bumps along the way as you figure out what you want to do and what impact you want to have. I thought I was going to be in medicine and never even knew community building was something you could do for a living. Each job that I had along the way even the ones I didn’t like, helped me get closer to what I wanted to do. Each milestone I faced, getting older, losing a parent, the birth and raising of our three children helped me focus in on what I want and need to do and how I want to spend my time.
Green City Market – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Green City Market cultivates a stronger local food system through vibrant farmers markets, edible education, and local food access. Our nationally-recognized markets connect Chicagoans to Midwest farmers dedicated to sustainable and humane agricultural practices. GCM’s education programs, both at-market and in the community, promote hands-on learning about growing sustainably and cooking with the seasons. Find the freshest local produce, dairy, meats, breads, preserves, and more at our locations in Lincoln Park, the West Loop, the Park at Wrigley, and the Produce Box during the summer months, and at our Indoor Market during the wintertime. Green City Market welcomes Link Cards (formerly food stamps) and matches Link purchases up to $15 at all locations. All of our farmers are third party certified which means they are bringing the healthiest, sustainably produced, local food to our markets each day. We are so proud to be part of the Chicago community and have people proudly exclaim that, “GCM is their happy place”, or that “their kids grew up at GCM”
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I don’t think it is one moment but a collection of the people I have met, the discussions I have had, and seeing people and communities come together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greencitymarket.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/greencitymarket
- Facebook: facebook.com/greencitymarket
- Twitter: twitter.com/greencitymarket
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/green-city-market-chicago-2
- Other: http://greencitymarket.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=451c36af6175747e4f02e9f2f&id=effd6b4c81
Image Credit:
Cindy Kurman
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
