McCormick Place has new ½-acre rooftop garden

There’s a new rooftop garden at McCormick Place in Chicago that will grow produce for the convention center’s caterers.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Cook County ex-offenders will work in the new half-acre garden. It will be planted with greens, beets, tomatoes, peppers and herbs. The former offenders are part of the Cook County Sheriff’s Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center.

The Chicago Botanic Garden planted the garden in June and runs the agricultural program for the Cook County sheriff. The harvested vegetables will go into dishes prepared by caterers at McCormick Place.

In the future organizers hope to expand the garden to three acres.