Barilla Extends Its Support of Urban Growers Collective's Efforts to Combat Food Apartheid

NORTHBROOK, Ill, Nov. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Barilla announced today its continued commitment to Urban Growers Collective (UGC) as they jointly re-launched and unveiled its new Fresh Moves Mobile Market. Using a converted bus, the Mobile Market creates a "produce aisle on wheels" and works toward closing food access gaps in schools, communities, and health centers.

The Barilla-UGC partnership began in 2015, when UGC was formerly recognized as Growing Power, through employee volunteerism and kick-start funding for its thriving Southside Farm and its previous Mobile Market program. Today, Barilla recognizes the need to keep the momentum going as BIPOC communities have been hardest hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. This new phase of its partnership allows the Fresh Moves Mobile Market to expand its services, which include underserved communities on the west and south sides of Chicago, including North Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park, Washington Park, Englewood and more.

The Fresh Moves Mobile Market bus is re-launching after an eight-month hiatus due to having to retire its predecessor. The brand-new vehicle will help UGC provide the community with over 2,000 pounds of fresh produce five days per week throughout the year. Beginning Monday, November 9, customers can board the bus and fill their bags with delicious local produce, staples and a selection of prepared meals. Everything is priced to be both affordable while providing a fair return for the farmers. Barilla donates pasta to the Fresh Moves program for clients to use in their healthy meal preparation with produce from the bus. The bus will make stops at 15 locations on the South and West sides of Chicago. Customers will be required to adhere to COVID-19 compliant standards, including social distancing and wearing masks. Support was provided by Somebody Feed The People, a project of the Rosenthal Family Foundation.

"Barilla is a company which deeply believes that good, nutritious food should be available to all," said Jean-Pierre Comte, President of Barilla Americas. "We are proud to support the Urban Growers Collective, which is doing significant and incredible work to overcome systemic racism in our food system in the Chicagoland community. We'd also like to thank the Rosenthal Foundation for helping us bring this vision to life by partnering on this project."

Additionally, the Fresh Moves Mobile Market will be getting a fresh look, thanks to Alexandra Antoine, an interdisciplinary artist who resides in Chicago, Illinois. Alexandra's work addresses the themes of identity and culture through the use of typography, line and portraiture. She uses the portrait as a tool to re/present individuals of African diaspora while exploring her relationship to them within the larger narrative of her Haitian identity.  Alexandra was UGC's first artist on the farm where she created work with the organization's teens throughout the year. Barilla and UGC commissioned Alexandra to design the new vehicle to bring joy, emotion and cultural connection to the communities the bus will serve.

"Lack of fresh food access disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities on the South and West Side of Chicago. Urban Growers Collective's aim is to address the inequities and structural racism that exist in the food system and in communities of color. Our mission has always been to empower communities with choice but, through the Covid-19 pandemic, this work has become more important than ever. The new and improved Fresh Moves Mobile Market is an important piece to fulfilling our mission to provide nourishing, culturally affirming fresh foods," said Laurell Sims, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Finance.

Lastly, Barilla is hosting a virtual tribute cook-along on November 13 to raise awareness for systemic racism in the food system in Chicago, and toast UGC's unique approach to healing communities through farming, food, art, culture and more. Hosted by Lauren Scott and Chefs Erick Williams and Nyesha Arrington, this virtual cook-along will celebrate UGC's work to eradicate systemic racism in Chicago's under-resourced communities. There will be a special appearance by Phil Rosenthal and special performances from Red Clay Dance Company. Barilla is asking for donations through the cook-along to raise funding to help grow UGC's important contributions to the urban farming community and the residents in the City of Chicago. Participants who donate at a certain level will also receive a produce box with Barilla products and fresh ingredients brought to you from UGC's farm and from Midwest Foods. Tickets can be purchased, and donations can be made at www.BarillaPastaBuilders.com.

About Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a leader in urban agriculture and food policy in Chicago. UGC is a non-profit organization with educational programs, partnerships and an overarching mission to positively influence food-deprived neighborhoods in Chicago's South and West Side communities.

Working closely with more than 33 like-minded community partners, UGC's, mission is to build economic opportunity and mitigate food insecurity and limited access to high quality, affordable and nutritionally dense food. Seven urban farms operate on 11-acres of land predominantly located on Chicago's South Side. For more information, urbangrowerscollective.org.

About the Barilla Group
Barilla is a family company, not listed on the stock exchange, chaired by brothers Guido, Luca and Paolo Barilla.  It was founded by their great-grandfather, Pietro Barilla, who opened a bakery in Parma, Italy in 1877.  Now, Barilla has become one of the world's most esteemed food companies and is recognized worldwide for its high-quality food products. With its brands – Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pan di Stelle, Gran Cereale, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina and Vesta, Misko, Voiello and Cucina Barilla – it creates joyful, wholesome and honest food, inspired by the Mediterranean Diet and the Italian lifestyle.

When Pietro opened his store more than 140 years ago, his ultimate goal was to make good food. Today, that principle has become Barilla's way of doing business: "Good for You, Good for the Planet," a motto that expresses the daily commitment of over 8,000 people who work for the company, and of a supply chain that shares its values and passion for quality.

"Good for You" means constantly improving the product offering, encouraging the adoption of healthy lifestyles and facilitating people's access to food. "Good for the Planet" means promoting sustainable supply chains and reducing CO2 emissions and water consumption.

To learn more: www.barillagroup.com; Twitter: @barillagroup

For further information:
US Contact:
Renee Mailhiot, Edelman
[email protected]
312-838-8301

SOURCE Barilla Group

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