Fresh Taste is a collaborative funding initiative working to improve the Chicago region’s future through food. Formed in 2002 by a group of foundations and public officials, Fresh Taste actively works to change how food is accessed, produced, and consumed in the greater Chicago region. Supported by our staff, our members and participating funders collaborate, share insights, and align grantmaking to achieve greater impact across the food system.
Our Vision
Fresh Taste envisions a regional food system characterized by significant production of, and equitable access to, good food for all. By “good food” we mean food that:
- Promotes responsible land and water stewardship
- Provides fair value to all of those working throughout the production and distribution system
- Is reasonably affordable
- Promotes health
Our focus is the Chicago foodshed, an area extending roughly 200-250 miles around Chicago, from which we believe much of the region’s food could be sourced. Besides Illinois, the Chicago foodshed includes parts of Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and even Minnesota. If the productive capacity of the Chicago foodshed were fully realized, it could satisfy a significant percentage of the region’s food demand, promote a healthy working landscape, and stimulate our economy.
Why Is This Work Important?
The supply of locally grown food does not meet a growing demand. Our existing food system is insufficiently organized. It fails to serve the needs of hungry people or compensate those who work hard in the fields, processing facilities, restaurants, and food retailers. One in seven Illinois residents is unsure where or when they will receive their next meal. Devastating climate impacts—droughts, floods, extreme cold, to name a few—and a pandemic are now part of people’s lives. Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted.
The Chicago regional food system must be resilient enough to meet all these challenges. Collaborative work among diverse food system practitioners—nonprofit, business, and public—is critical. Fresh Taste was created to promote such collaboration to produce systemic impact. Fresh Taste members have collectively granted over $160 million to date.
Our Staff
Vanessa Reese
Managing Director
vanessa@freshtaste.org
As Managing Director, Vanessa Reese manages Fresh Taste’s collaborative grantmaking funds (Chicago Region Food System Fund, Austin Fresh, North Lawndale Fresh, and Midwest Regenerative Agriculture Fund); supports the work of several Steering Committees; and contributes significant programmatic development for each. Additionally, she manages Fresh Taste’s financials, daily operations, and events. Prior to joining Fresh Taste, Vanessa was the Director of Development at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County. She was also a graphic designer and nonprofit fundraiser, creating impactful pieces for both businesses and nonprofits, as well as fundraising campaigns that raised millions of dollars for Chicago-area nonprofits. Vanessa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Illinois.
Logan Henderson
Program Associate
logan@freshtaste.org
Logan Henderson joined Fresh Taste in 2025. In his role as Program Associate, he provides programmatic and administrative support to a vibrant community of funder members and food system practitioners. Logan is a 2016 graduate of Northern Illinois University. He gained his teaching license in the state of Illinois in 2021, and in the process discovered his passion for equitable education and resources. Before joining Fresh Taste, Logan worked at Lion’s Pride Mentoring where he translated his passion for equity into preparing alumni of the mentoring program for the workforce and he developed community-centric, equitable, and sustainable fundraising strategies. Logan also serves as the Development Officer for the Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles Board of Directors.
Yaza Sarieh
Program Coordinator
yaza@freshtaste.org
Yaza Sarieh is a part-time Program Coordinator at Fresh Taste, where she leads research on grocery store access in Chicago, facilitates the Grocery Store Working Group for Fresh Taste members, and supports special projects connected to the Chicago Region Food Systems Fund. Prior to starting with Fresh Taste, Yaza was a project coordinator for Georgia Organics, supporting a program that provided funds and technical assistance to school districts across the state that were developing their nutrition and garden education programs. She received her B.A. in History and Arabic from Emory University in 2020, and was a Fellow with the Luce Foundation in 2021, where she worked on participatory development initiatives in Sri Lanka. In addition to her role with Fresh Taste, Yaza is the Program Associate for Food:Land:Opportunity, and is currently a part-time Master’s of Public Health candidate at the University of Chicago studying the intersections of food systems and health outcomes.
Our Office
5555 N. Sheridan Road, Suite 18
Chicago, Illinois 60640
773-944-5100
info@freshtaste.org
Media Contact
Brandon Hayes/Patrick Williams
Bold Bison Communications & Consulting
press@boldbison.com