NWI Food Council

Directions Website Contact the organization

NWI Food Council cultivating a just, thriving and regenerative food system for all in NW Indiana Would you like to get involved, or even just get to know one another?

The NWI Food Council a grassroots organization that grew out of the 2015 Local Food Summit. We launched in December 2015 with support from the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), Valparaiso University, the Purdue Extension, and the Food Bank of NWI. We serve as a regional clearinghouse, connecting other food groups and initiatives across the region. We're also working on several of our own initiatives, and look forward to collaborating with other organizations and individuals as we do so! Please message us here or send an email through our website! Our mission is to cultivate a just, thriving and regenerative food system for all in NW Indiana. We envision a local food system where everyone has fair access to nutritious food that is grown by regional producers using regenerative practices. Through community-based strategies, we work towards collaboration, healthy ecosystems, equity and resiliency for all in NW Indiana.

We're incredibly excited to welcome chef, author and James Beard Award semifinalist Abra Berens back to Northwest Indian...
10/19/2026

We're incredibly excited to welcome chef, author and James Beard Award semifinalist Abra Berens back to Northwest Indiana for The Farmer & The Chef.

VIP guests will have access to an intimate pre-event reception and exclusive meet & greet with Abra—an opportunity to talk food, farming, seasonality and the Midwest with someone whose work so beautifully connects all four.

Bring one of your favorite Abra Berens cookbooks—or purchase one—and have it personally signed. Your VIP Experience includes the exclusive reception and meet & greet, book-signing opportunity, special VIP swag, VIP recognition and the complete Farmer & The Chef experience. VIP space is limited.

https://nwifoodcouncil.networkforgood.com/events/105916-the-farmer-the-chef

Ten years ago, we started with a question: What could Northwest Indiana's food system become if we built it together? A ...
10/17/2026

Ten years ago, we started with a question: What could Northwest Indiana's food system become if we built it together?

A decade later, we're seeing the answer. Local farmers are reaching new markets. Local food is making its way into schools, homes and communities across our region. New infrastructure is connecting farms to buyers. Relationships built over years are making our regional food system stronger and more resilient. This year, the NWI Food Council turns 10!

And we're celebrating the only way that feels right: around a table filled with local food and surrounded by the people who made it possible.

Join us November 12 to eat well. meet your farmers, and invest in local food.

https://nwifoodcouncil.networkforgood.com/events/105916-the-farmer-the-chef

Happy Boss's Day to our Co-Executive Directors Anne and Virginia!! Thank you for your dedication, expertise and passion!...
10/17/2026

Happy Boss's Day to our Co-Executive Directors Anne and Virginia!!

Thank you for your dedication, expertise and passion! The NWI Food Council wouldn't be the same without you. We hope you enjoyed your day! 🍅🥬

Meet the chefs behind The Farmer & The Chef: 🍽️ Nick Alessandri — River Forest Community School Corporation 🍽️ Bob McLel...
10/16/2026

Meet the chefs behind The Farmer & The Chef:

🍽️ Nick Alessandri — River Forest Community School Corporation
🍽️ Bob McLellan — Fuzzyline Brewing Co.
🍽️ Michael Lanzerotte — Meraki Hospitality Group
🍽️ Nicole Bissonette — Fish Camp
🍽️ Jack Velazquez — Area Career Center (Hammond)

On November 12, they'll come together to create a multi-course dining experience built around ingredients sourced from local farms and producers. Throughout the evening, you'll meet the people behind the food and hear the stories of the farmers, chefs and community partners building Northwest Indiana's local food system.

Come hungry. Leave connected and inspired!

https://nwifoodcouncil.networkforgood.com/events/105916-the-farmer-the-chef

🍄🍞 NEW WINTER FARM CLUB ADD-ONS! 🍞🍄Need another fabulous reason to purchase a Winter Farm Club Share? We’re bringing eve...
10/15/2026

🍄🍞 NEW WINTER FARM CLUB ADD-ONS! 🍞🍄
Need another fabulous reason to purchase a Winter Farm Club Share? We’re bringing even more local goodness to your winter boxes! 🎉

You can now add mushrooms from Four Star Mushroom or sourdough bread to your Winter Farm Club subscription!

Here’s why you’ll love these new add-ons:
🍄 Mushroom Add-On: Enjoy a rotating selection of mushrooms from Four Star Mushroom.
🍞 Sourdough Bread Add-On: Enjoy a variety of sourdough breads, delivered pre-sliced and ready to enjoy!

✨ A little surprise each week! Both add-ons will be vendors’ choice at comparable prices, giving you the chance to try different varieties, flavors, and options throughout the season.

🙌 No minimum order required! Enjoy mushrooms or bread every week without having to meet a minimum add-on order.

Lock in your price today for all 7 weeks of Winter Farm Club!

WINTER FARM CLUB SCHEDULE
📍 Wednesday Host-Site Pickups: November 4 – December 16
🚚 Friday Home Deliveries: November 6 – December 18

Haven’t purchased your Winter Farm Club Share yet? There’s still time to join us! Order here: https://region-roots.localline.ca/landingpage

Already signed up for a Winter Share but want to add mushrooms, sourdough bread, or both? No worries! You can still add either or both options to your existing subscription.

Let’s keep the local harvest going all winter long! Thank you for supporting our local farmers and food producers!

An inspiring evening at the Marian University Plymouth Changing Lives Dinner.For the third consecutive year, our Farm to...
10/14/2026

An inspiring evening at the Marian University Plymouth Changing Lives Dinner.
For the third consecutive year, our Farm to School Coordinator Veronica Jalomo had the honor of attending this meaningful event celebrating the incredible leaders and community members making a lasting impact in their community.

Our ongoing partnership with Dr. Neal Knapp and Marian University Plymouth continues to strengthen regional farm to school connections, and this evening was no exception. Grounded in community collaboration, these gatherings always spark vital conversations that move our local food system forward.

During the event, Veronica also connected with Brienne and Katie from the Jasper- Newton Foundation. It was a wonderful opportunity to share details about the upcoming Spark Award funding through the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub—expanding opportunities to support local food procurement, education, and nutrition across our schools.

Thank you to Marian University Plymouth for hosting an unforgettable evening, and thank you to the local champions working every day to change lives in our communities!

It’s National Farmer Week! 🚜🌾 When schools build partnerships with local growers, ranchers, and fishers, they create rel...
10/12/2026

It’s National Farmer Week! 🚜🌾 When schools build partnerships with local growers, ranchers, and fishers, they create reliable markets for regional producers while serving vibrant, scratch-fresh meals students love. This week, we salute the dedicated farmers cultivating thriving communities from the ground up.

10/11/2026

What an incredible day on the 2026 Farm to School Farm Hop Tour!

Students from Merrillville Schools Culinary Arts and Forest Ridge Academy NJHS, joined by community members, boarded the school bus to explore local food systems in action:

De Jong Farm (Merrillville): Touring a family-run operation growing fresh produce, flowers, and pasture-raised meats.
Garwood Orchards (LaPorte): Harvesting apples straight from the trees at a 6th-generation family farm.

We wrapped up at LaPorte High School, where Food Service Director Cindy Vondra shared an inspiring presentation on the district's farm-to-school programming. The LaPorte culinary team then served a phenomenal Indiana Food Day lunch celebrating local tomatoes—including scratch-made Caprese salad, Fischer Farms sausage pizza, and Region Roots ratatouille garden pizza.

Huge thanks to our host farms, school nutrition champions, and students for connecting our classrooms to our local farms!

Can you hear the crunch? 🍎 This week, students, educators, and early care centers across our region are taking a collect...
10/10/2026

Can you hear the crunch? 🍎 This week, students, educators, and early care centers across our region are taking a collective bite of crisp, locally grown apples to celebrate the Great Apple Crunch!

Sourcing from regional orchards isn't just a delicious treat for our kids—it supports the family farms and orchards that keep our communities thriving. Whether fresh off the branch, sliced into a snack, or featured on the lunch line, local apples prove that healthy food can be loud, fun, and flavorful.

Is your school or center crunching this week? Tag us in your apple photos and show us your loud crunch face!

10/09/2026

Last night was a beautiful night to gather at NWI Food Council for Rotary Means Business! Thank you to Joseph Skibbie for spearheading this NWI effort.

Address

140 East Shore Parkway
LaPorte, IN
46350

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NWI Food Council posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to NWI Food Council:

Shortcuts

Share

Category