Building and Scaling Commercial Solutions for Food Access in Black Communities

MAR 05, 2021 

Elizabeth Abunaw takes part Chicago Food Policy Action Council's, "16th Annual Food Justice Summit".

Celebrating Black History Makers: Liz Abunaw Is Working To Conquer Food Inequality With Forty Acres Fresh Market

FEB 27, 2021  

During Black History Month, we're taking a look at people making a difference. One of our History Makers is working to conquer food inequality in Chicago. Liz Abunaw has always had a passion for food. 

CBS News Weekend Roundup w/ Allison Keyes Kaleidoscope segment

FEB 26, 2021 
 

In this week's Unifying America edition of the Kaleidoscope, we speak with Liz Abunaw, a Black woman who founded a grocery store pop up and delivery service in the predominantly African American Austin neighborhood on the Chicago's West Side.

Five Black businesses making a difference in their communities and thriving despite COVID-19

FEB 24, 2021 
 

"There was nobody accountable for this situation of why neighborhoods don't have affordable food," Abunaw explained. She deliberately chooses not to use the phrase "food desert" because, as Abunaw explains, deserts imply a naturally occurring phenomenon whereas apartheid points to man-made systemic issues plaguing underserved communities.

Chicago woman brings fresh produce to city's West Side with Forty Acres Fresh Market

FEB 08, 2021 
 

Austin is the city of Chicago's second largest neighborhood in terms of population, and it's predominantly Black with lower and middle class residents. Yet it has no fresh food stores — just chains and fast food restaurants. Liz Abunaw is working to change that.

Business owner opens grocery store pop-up to ease food desert frustrations in Austin

JAN 30, 2021 

With all the possibilities, Abunaw said there are still some deficiencies. The West Side neighborhood has struggled for years to keep a grocery store and businesses are drying up as well. Abunaw said it was something that hit the first time she stumbled into the area in 2016.

The Forty Acres Fresh Market Opens in the Austin Neighborhood

JAN 18, 2021  

Food deserts plague plenty of neighborhoods near and around the City of Chicago. Many of the Chicago neighborhoods are considered food deserts where affordable, healthy, and nutritional foods are hard to find.  The Forty Acres Fresh Market plans to do its part to meet the Austin neighborhood’s needs by creating a local food market.

WVON 1690AM - The Talk of Chicago ft. Forty Acres Fresh Market

JAN 15, 2021  

Elizabeth Abunaw discusses the backstory and impact of Forty Acres Fresh Market, on The Talk of Chicago.

Black-Owned Grocery Store Coming To Austin After Save A Lot Closes In West Side Food Desert

DEC 30, 2020  

Forty Acres Fresh Market is expected to expand its pop-ups and delivery service into a full-service brick-and-mortar location at 5713 W. Chicago Ave.

Austin City Market Extended After Successful Summer That Saw Three Times The Normal Traffic

OCT 01, 2020  

The market helps provide affordable and healthy food access to residents in an area with few grocery stores.

Chicago’s Forty Acres Fresh Market On Ending ‘Food Apartheid’ In Black Communities

JUN 03, 2020

Elizabeth Abunaw’s journey to starting Forty Acres Fresh Market began in 2016, when she accidentally ended up somewhere in the West Side of Chicago on her way to run an errand. As soon as she got off the bus, she realized she was in unfamiliar territory. But she needed cash, so she looked up locations for her bank. There were none nearby. 

Want To End Austin’s Food Desert Status? Vote To Help Open Forty Acres Grocery Store

 FEB 28, 2020

The fresh market is competing for a $50,000 grant that would allow it to open a store, ending "food apartheid," its founder said.

Bridging the boulevard, one bite at a time

FEB 11, 2020

A businesswoman looking to start a brick-and-mortar grocery store in the Austin neighborhood has a plan to address the famous imbalance of commercial activity between the West Side community and Oak Park, its neighbor to the west. 

Forty Acres Market Gets $335,000 In Grants To Expand Pop-Up Markets, Food Delivery Service In Austin

SEP 23, 2019

The funding brings the start up one step closer to opening a grocery store to end "food apartheid" on the West Side, founder Liz Abunaw said.

American Heart Association Social Impact Fund targets health on South, West Sides

SEP 11, 2019

A pop-up fresh produce market in Austin; a tech-based, fresh food delivery start-up in Roseland, and a race and health equity focused nonprofit on the Near West Side are among 11 initiatives to improve the health of marginalized communities nationwide being funded by a Social Impact Fund launched by the American Heart Association.

Fresh food market opens in Austin, offers local produce for west side residents

JUN 19, 2019

"There's nothing like the west side of Chicago. It's the most unique, vibrant, weird, but completely awesome," said Liz Abunaw, a new business owner in the west side Austin neighborhood.

Fresh market popup returns to Austin this weekend

MAY 9, 2019

The event – presented by Forty Acres Fresh Market and the Austin Av 72 Chicago SSA – will offer a large selection of affordable produce, recipe demonstrations, free samples and special Mother’s Day giveaways. Food featured by The Black Cat Kitchen and Chef Maria also will be featured.

Liz Abunaw, fresh food entrepreneur

FEB 27, 2018

Liz Abunaw, originally from upstate New York, worked in produce sales for General Mills and came to study business and social entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago in 2012. She wanted to see businesses bringing real solutions to social problems — not do-gooding as a public relations act.