In The News
Sharing Our Impact
We’re proud to share the impact of our work with our community members! As we embody our mission to address structural inequities and racism in food systems, we celebrate the progress and effects we have in the Chicagoland area and larger environmental networks. Check out the latest news articles that feature UGC to learn what we have been up to.
WGN Feature
Green Era Campus: Converting Food Waste into Clean Energy
Green Era Campus is building sustainable, resilient communities through innovative urban development. UGC founder and CEO and cofounder of Green Era, Erika Allen, and Green Era CEO, Jason Feldman, discuss the intention behind the creation of the Green Era Campus as a means to combat and recirculate food waste.
MSN Feature
Chicago Heights 'Z-farm' helping Urban Growers Collective battle food insecurity
This article highlights how our local food operations combat both food insecurity and the global climate crisis. Our CEO, Erika Allen, prompts us to "just think about how many miles it took for that tomato to come to your plate and all the energy that is consumed along the way for that tomato, that in the end, doesn't really taste that good,"
StreetWise Feature
Annual Chicagoland Farmers Market List
Our South Chicago farm stand is featured in StreetWise’s annual farmers market list! Our Farm Stand, located at 9001 S. Mackinaw, Chicago, IL, is open every Saturday from 9:00A - 4:00P and stocked full of luscious, locally grown produce. Check out the full list to discover new opportunities to support local growers.
The Packer Feature
2025 Women in Produce : Erika Allen
The Packer’s Women in Produce celebrates leaders who are moving the industry forward and inspiring future generations to do the same. Our founder and CEO, Erika Allen, was interviewed by The Packer’s Jill Dutton on her experiences as a pioneer in urban agriculture. Allen reflects on the impact of her work on the broader produce industry.
Block Club Chicago Feature
How Green Era Campus Is Turning Food Waste Into Clean Energy, Soil And Jobs On South Side
We hosted officials such as Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson at our Green Era Campus’ Ribbon Cutting. Celebrating the Midwest’s first anaerobic digester, which has diverted 40,000 tons of food waste typically sent to landfills. We are modeling the evolving potential of closed loop food systems as we utilize the compost generated from the Campus to grow fresh produce at our farms throughout the Chicagoland area.