{"id":43844,"date":"2016-10-11T16:43:32","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T21:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=43844"},"modified":"2021-12-10T12:40:48","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T18:40:48","slug":"high-end-restaurants-serve-vegetables-grown-at-cook-county-jail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/high-end-restaurants-serve-vegetables-grown-at-cook-county-jail\/","title":{"rendered":"High end restaurants serve vegetables grown at Cook County jail"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By Cloee Cooper<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dropcap\">Surrounded by thick concrete walls and barbed wire fences lies the Cook County Sheriff\u2019s Urban Farming Initiative, a place where jail inmates grow vegetables and herbs which eventually make their way to Chicago\u2019s trendy restaurants and farmers\u2019 markets.<\/p>\n<p>The program has operated with inmate labor since 1994. Spanning 130,000 square feet, and located within the Cook County Jail facility, the garden is the size of about three football fields. This past season, inmates grew 10,000 pounds of vegetables &#8211; ranging from carrots, kale and zucchini to cilantro and chioggia beets.<\/p>\n<p>Every season 30 inmates participate in the program and earn $2 a day to learn gardening, grow vegetables and prepare produce to be sold. Cook County is the largest jail in the country, with over 8,000 inmates, and the Urban Farming Initiative is one of several jobs at the jail. Other jobs include sanitation, work in the kitchen, snow removal, grass cutting, cleaning dog cages and doing laundry. The pay range for all jobs is from $1 to $5 a day, according to jail officials.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Urban farms in jails and prisons have become more widespread across the country, ranging from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thesalt\/2014\/01\/12\/261397333\/prison-gardens-help-inmates-grow-their-own-food-and-skills\">San Quentin State Prison\u2019s Planting Justice<\/a> program to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.columbiatribune.com\/news\/local\/missouri-prison-program-gave-tons-of-produce\/article_da224904-6480-11e3-ad17-10604b9f6eda.html\">Missouri Department of Corrections\u2019 Restorative Justice Garden<\/a> program.<\/p>\n<p>Cook County\u2019s program was modeled after <a href=\"http:\/\/thehort.org\/blog\/2016\/09\/greenhouse-twelve.html\">The Greenhouse program<\/a> at Rikers Island Correctional Center in New York, said Kerry Wright, a deputy director who runs the Cook County initiative.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInitially we saw it as a form of therapy,\u201d said Wright.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I started, the program was really small and there was no profit at all being earned from the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The initiative initially relied on tax dollars. But after Wright approached vendors in Chicago to sell the produce, she was able to get some high end restaurants on board and expand the program. This past year, the farm earned $12,000. She says all proceeds go back into running the farm and other enrichment programs at the jail.<\/p>\n<p>Wright said it was difficult to convince vendors that the produce was high quality at first. But once she gave vendors a tour of the garden, they realized the program was serious, and more restaurants signed on. Now, \u201crestaurants will pay organic produce rates,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe restaurants we have on board are amazing people,\u201d she added. \u201cThey are really wanting to give back to their communities, including hiring our guys when they get out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is difficult to expand the program at this point because the criteria for inmate participation are strict. They must be minimum security inmates, she said, and the jail must keep the flow of participants steady and security intact.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpmf-gallerys wpmf-gallerys-life\"><div id=\"gallery-1\" class=\"gallery gallery_life wpmf_gallery_default gallery_default none gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail gallery-link-post wpmf-has-border-radius-0 wpmf-gutterwidth-5 no_ratio\"><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"0\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-VI-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Sopprafina&#039;s Market Cook County Jail\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"0\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Sopprafina&#039;s Market Cook County Jail\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-VI-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-VI-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Sopprafina\u2019s Market serves downtown customers produce grown at the Cook County Jail Garden. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"1\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-I-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Kale at Cook County Jail\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Kale at Cook County Jail\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-I-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-I-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Kale grows in abundance inside Cook County Jail\u2019s urban farm. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"2\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Cilantro beds at Cook County Jail\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Cilantro beds at Cook County jail\" src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Rows of cilantro, beet and chard beds line the Cook County jail\u2019s Urban farm. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"3\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-II-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Greenhouse at Cook County Jail\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"3\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Greenhouse at Cook County Jail\" src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-II-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-II-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">The newly constructed 1,500 square-foot greenhouse allows inmates to grow vegetables throughout the year at Cook County Jail. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"4\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-III-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Cook County Jail entrance\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"4\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Cook County Jail entrance\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-III-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/medill.wordpress.offload\/WP%20Media%20Folder%20-%20medill-reports-chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-III-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">The entrance of the Cook County Jail Urban Farm, as program coordinator Tina Bentley enters the greenhouse. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"wpmf-gallery-item\" data-index=\"5\"><div class=\"wpmf-gallery-icon\"><div class=\"square_thumbnail\"><div class=\"img_centered\"><a class=\" not_video noLightbox\" data-lightbox=\"0\" data-href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-V-10-5-16-1024x680.jpg\" title=\"Customers at Sopprafina&#039;s Market Cook County Jail\" target=\"_self\" data-index=\"5\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpmf_img\" alt=\"Customers at Sopprafina&#039;s Market Cook County Jail\" src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-V-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\" data-type=\"wpmfgalleryimg\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/JAIL-GARDEN-V-10-5-16-150x150.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Customers wait in line at one of five Sopprafina Markets in downtown Chicago where chefs prepare produce grown at the Cook County Jail Garden. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sopraffina.com\/#our-story\">Sopprafina Market<\/a>, which prides itself on offering downtown customers local and sustainable options, purchases produce grown at the jail.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a pretty high standard of what we use and the products are always coming in really nice,\u201d said Tim Muellemann, the area manager of Sopprafina Market. \u201cWhen they have 60 pounds of roma tomatoes, I say, \u2018I will take that all.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Muellemann said for him, it is more than just about the quality of the produce. \u201cIt\u2019s a feel good for us because it\u2019s a program that everyone should know about. It\u2019s giving them a purpose there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Wright said the farm is the nearest source for locally grown high quality produce in Chicago. Produce from the garden is sold on average for $1.15 a pound, which is commensurate with bulk organic produce prices.<\/p>\n<p>Yusho in Logan Square, <a href=\"http:\/\/a10hydepark.com\/\">A10<\/a> in Hyde Park, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefinchkitchen.com\/about\/contact\">The Finch Kitchen<\/a> in Ravenswood, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepublicanrestaurant.com\/#pork-beer-oysters\">The Publican<\/a> in the West Loop are among the restaurants that participate in the program.<\/p>\n<p>Cosmo Goss, chef de cuisine at The Publican, spoke highly of the produce he prepares from the jail.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We love working with the program. They grow custom veggies like chioggia beets, which are great! I also love their cucumbers, but I&#8217;ve never met a cucumber I didn&#8217;t like,\u201d said Goss. \u201cI believe the program is huge for people that want to learn something beyond just doing the labor.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While\u00a0the urban farm program is regarded generally as a positive initiative in the corrections field, it has its critics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe cannot forget that while the 13th Amendment forbids slavery, it also created the space for slavery to be re-invented by allowing those &#8216;duly convicted&#8217; [of a crime] to still be required to work without compensation,\u201d said attorney Todd Belcore, Executive Director of Social Change, a nonprofit that seeks to turn problems into progress and concrete change via film, training and policy advocacy. \u201cThe unfortunate, ugly truth is that too many inmate work programs across this nation take advantage of that exception and exploit men and women with past mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though Belcore distinguished between compulsory prison work and elective programs like the Cook County Sheriff\u2019s initiative, he said prisons and jails are exploiting inmates for cheap labor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the end of the day, the sheriff is trying to get to the root cause,\u201d conceded Belcore. \u201cHe is trying to turn the jail into a place where people can get quality workplace and development skills, but you need to be mindful of the low compensation and the conditions people are in.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"featurecaption\">Program Coordinator Tina Bentley at Cook County Jail Garden, says pumpkin on a stick has been the best-selling item at the popular weekly Daley Plaza farmers\u2019 markets this year. (Cloee Cooper\/MEDILL)<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"text-indent: 20px;width: auto;padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px;text-align: center;font: bold 11px\/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif;color: #ffffff;background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% \/ 14px 14px;cursor: pointer\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Cloee Cooper Surrounded by thick concrete walls and barbed wire fences lies the Cook County Sheriff\u2019s Urban Farming Initiative, a place where jail inmates grow vegetables and herbs which eventually make their way to Chicago\u2019s trendy restaurants and farmers\u2019 markets. The program has operated with inmate labor since 1994. Spanning 130,000 square feet, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":314,"featured_media":43860,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194,27,2941,30,675,2582],"tags":[3049,3050,2809,99,3052,3051],"class_list":["post-43844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-business","category-fall-2016","category-public-affairs","category-social-justice","category-spring-2016","tag-cook-county-jail","tag-corrections","tag-farming","tag-food","tag-gardens","tag-vegetables"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>High end restaurants serve vegetables grown at Cook County jail - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/high-end-restaurants-serve-vegetables-grown-at-cook-county-jail\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"High end restaurants serve vegetables grown at Cook County jail - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Cloee Cooper Surrounded by thick concrete walls and barbed wire fences lies the Cook County Sheriff\u2019s Urban Farming Initiative, a place where jail inmates grow vegetables and herbs which eventually make their way to Chicago\u2019s trendy restaurants and farmers\u2019 markets. The program has operated with inmate labor since 1994. 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The program has operated with inmate labor since 1994. 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