Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to increase food access by creating a community-based “market city” framework, with priority attention given to the historically underserved South and West sides.Johnson’s new plan, called the Market City Action Plan, was announced Thursday and would further his 202 5 idea to establish a public market. It calls for creating administrative infrastructure to provide resources for food entrepreneurs, supporting existing farmers markets and building a network of year-round indoor public markets.He also signed an executive order to establish a steering committee that would bring together city departments and community members to implement the plan. Johnson appointed Aaliayah Romer as manager of food equity to head the initiative. “Our Market City strategy is about building a food system that responds to what communities need while creating more opportunities for local entrepreneurs to grow and succeed," Johnson said in a news release. "This executive order moves that vision into action so we can deliver lasting solutions shaped by the needs of our neighborhoods.”Johnson first floated the idea of expanding food access in 2023 when he proposed a city-owned grocery store. Following a feasibility study on the idea, he pivoted to opening public markets.“After a very thoughtful and a more thorough engagement over the last several years, listening to people, we heard loud and clear that the entrepreneur spirit of Chicagoans wanted their efforts to be strengthened, and especially Chicago's existing food ecosystem. So it was important that we're building on the innovative work that's already happening in our neighborhoods,” Johnson told the Chicago Sun-Times Thursday.Residents on the South and West sides statistically have much lower access to grocery stores than other neighborhoods. A report released this year by the Greater Chicago Food Depository found 51% of South Side homes, 45% of West Side homes and 41% of Southwest Side homes are food insecure and don’t have consistent access to enough food.Johnson's announcement comes three months after the city-funded redevelopment deal with the operators of Save A Lot fell apart after the owner, Yellow Banana, closed its seven stores one year after opening.Following the Save A Lot closures, the city announced in August that it would provide $450,000 in microgrants through its Neighborhood Market Grant Program to help support existing grocers and markets.Johnson's new plan was developed over the last year in collaboration with the Chicago Food Equity Council and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, as well as community stakeholders such as residents, entrepreneurs, farmers and market operators.The mayor’s office said the next step will be to release a request for information to the public in the next month, with the goal of identifying potential sites and operators for a market.Residents would likely see the first results of the plan through additional support to farmers markets during the 2027 season, said Ruby Ferguson, senior director of community engagement at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The support could be financial or through marketing help.Johnson said the city is still considering whether it will own or operate the public markets and that it may instead provide support. Related Chicago offering $10,000 grants to help support food access on South and West sides Save A Lot stores set to close Saturday after years of turmoil, recent CEO death threatens city-funded deal ...read more read less