University City's story of urban renewal, job creation and international talent is well-told. In a few short years, the 20 by 16 block, 2.5 square mile neighborhood has blossomed into a hub for culture and technology, with business and creative communities growing in tandem. One benchmark is fast growth in the food world, where five of
The Food Trust's 40 area farmer's markets operate. For example, the Clark Park farmer's market has grown 30 percent since 2005 and has expanded from Friday afternoons when it began in 1998 to two days a week and year-round.
Another example can be found right now in
University City Dining Days. An expected 26,000 patrons of 29 restaurants will eat the fruit of world class chefs like
Garces and
Flay for under $30. There's been a 20% increase in full service restaurants in the neighborhood in the past three years.
Philly Homegrown turns a sharp focus on all the awesome food on offer round these parts, and considers University City to be at the top of the locavore list, as the area provides a concentrated look at what can happen when people take farm to table very seriously. "West Philly is particularly rich in chefs and consumers who care about food," says Donna Schorr of the GPTMC.
UC menus tend toward locally grown and sourced items, and chefs may be found perusing the goods at Clark Park, where thousands flock weekly and even includes food trucks Honest Tom's and Guapos Tacos, which was recently renovated and sports bright orange furniture.
"It's a good source of revenue for small to medium family farms," says the Food Trust's Nick Uy, noting his organization charges vendors just $35 per stand.
There's an explosion of activity west of the Schuylkill, according to
UC District Communications Manager Mark Christman, with tourism friendly
Sustainable Saturdays and Farm to Table Trolley Tours; as well as neighborhood boosters like the
Clean & Safe Program which employs 80 people who function as West Philly ambassadors, and the
West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, now in its second year providing employment for local high school students.
Source: Nicky Uy, Food Trust; Mark Christman, UC District; Donna Schorr, GPTMC/Philly Homegrown
Writer: Sue Spolan