This piece is part of the weekly series “Growing Forward: Insights for Building Better Food and Agriculture Systems,” presented by the Global Food Institute at the George Washington University and the nonprofit organization Food Tank. Each installment highlights forward-thinking strategies to address today’s food and agriculture related challenges with innovative solutions. 

In Chicago, there is a moment that happens every morning that I wish everyone in America could witness.

It’s not flashy. No ribbon-cutting, no press, no celebrity chef plating a perfect dish. It’s just a box of fresh produce—sturdy, colorful, perfectly packed—placed gently on a neighbor’s porch by someone who lives just a few blocks away. There’s a nod. Sometimes a smile. Often, a “see you next week.” It takes ten seconds. But in that tiny moment, something powerful happens: trust is built, dignity is honored, and the engine of economic justice turns once again. MORE