ELGIN – A film series focused on food is underway in Elgin that asks viewers to consider what food goes through before arriving on shelves, tables, or in a mouth.
The Elgin Film Feast-ival, which kicked off Jan. 9, is all about food: its production, its effect on health, and its politics. Two dates remain in the series, which was started by Shared Harvest Food Cooperative and is sponsored by Sherman Hospital, the City of Elgin, The Elgin Climate Change Organization, Elgin Community Garden Network, and Side Street Studio Arts.
Carol Rauschenberger, president of Shared Harvest, a planned food cooperative in Elgin, speaks before a crowd. (Photo Provided)
“They’re very interested in the idea of food being closer to us,” Carol Rauschenberger said of the sponsors. Rauschenberger is president of Shared Harvest, a food cooperative with plans to open a store in Elgin.
The next film in the series is “What’s on Your Plate,” which will be shown at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin on April 24. The film follows two young girls as they trace food from the plate to stores and farms and examine what happens afterward to packaging and leftovers. Rauschenberger hopes to have a dietician on the panel as well as a mix of young people and adults.
The festival concludes May 9-10 at Elgin’s Green Expo held at the Centre of Elgin. There, the festival will show TED Talks from the “Food Matters” series on a loop.
Following each film, attendees can discuss the issues presented with a panel while trying various healthy foods. Rauschenberger said part of the goal with the panels is to expose audiences to a variety of opinions and ideas. For example, the series’ first installment, held on Jan. 9, featured the film “Forks Over Knives,” which advocates for disease prevention through plant-based foods. The night’s panel included a vegan chef, a chef supporting for the popular “paleo” diet, and a gastroenterologist from Sherman Hospital.
“The response has been really positive, and I think the major thing is it’s been great discussions afterwards,” she said of the first two events.
While one goal of the Film Feast-ival is to educate, another is to reach new supporters for Shared Harvest. The planned food cooperative was incorporated about one year ago when Rauschenberger, an Elgin native who had lived across the country and abroad, returned to Elgin to find a lack of food choices.
“I was sort of dismayed to the idea that I didn’t have access to anything other than conventional food in Elgin, conventional grocery stores,” she said.
After having to travel to neighboring towns to purchase organic food, Rauschenberger was inspired to open a store that sold such items in Elgin. Upon talking to community members, she expanded her focus to locally-grown foods and sustainable practices. Since its incorporation, the co-op has sold about 300 shares at $100 each, with shareholders given input on the direction of the co-op. The goal, Rauschenberger said, is to sell 700 shares to acquire collateral to seek lender financing and open a store.
The co-op is also seeking officers to serve on its board and Rauschenberger said members with finance or cooking experience would be particularly helpful.
The shopping experience at a co-op differs from a traditional grocery store in that there is typically an emphasis placed on locally grown and organic foods. Dry goods and bulk foods can also be made available through distributors. Coopdirectory.org lists nine operating co-ops in Illinois.
Shared Harvest hopes to make prepared foods a focus at its Elgin shop for buyers on the go. As for a location, Rauschenberger said the board is currently negotiating for a spot in downtown Elgin.
Elgin Film Feast-ival
“What’s on Your Plate?” film with discussion to follow
When: April 24, 7–9 p.m.
Where: Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin
Cost: Free
More info: sharedharvest.coop, gailborden.info
Shared Harvest Co-op
For more information, visit sharedharvest.coop or call Carol Rauschenberger at 847-873-9995 or rauschenberger_c@cityofelgin.org
