Find local food in Central Illinois

2012 Buy Fresh Buy Local SponsorsIllinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA) is a non-profit organization with members across the state whoare re-building local food systems one seed at a time through community gardens, farm to schoolprograms, sustainable agriculture and more. ISA promotes economically viable, environmentallysustainable and socially just local food systems through policy development, advocacy andeducation. Join the Alliance today! For more information, including how to become a member, goto www.ilstewards.org, call us at (217) 528-1563 or find us on Facebook.Central Illinois Sustainable Farming Network’s (CISFN) mission is to promote the development oflocal food systems in Central Illinois through farmer support and training. Network members arecommitted to sustainable farming and are willing to share knowledge and participate in learningopportunities.The Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter is an education campaign by Illinois Stewardship Alliance. IllinoisStewardship Alliance is part of FoodRoutes Network, a national nonprofit organization that providestechnical support to community-based groups that are working to strengthen regional markets forlocally grown foods. Visit www.foodroutes.org to learn how FoodRoutes is reintroducing Americansto their food.The Illinois Department of Agriculture protects and promotes the state's agricultural and naturalresources through services that benefit consumers, farmers and agribusinesses. The departmenthelps Illinois farmers, agribusinesses, food companies and other agricultural entities develop andexpand markets for agricultural products worldwide through a number of initiatives. These includethe Illinois Products logo program, trade shows, industry tours, retail displays and the IllinoisCentennial Farm program.The Illinois Department of Agriculture administers the Specialty CropBlock Grant Program on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture.For more information visit: www.agriculture.illinois.govTo find farmers’ markets in Illinois visit: http://www.agr.state.il.us/markets/farmers/University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering educational programs to residents of all of Illinois’ 102 counties – and farbeyond.Through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work, U of I Extension’s programs are aimed atmaking life better, healthier, safer and more profitable for individuals and their communities. U of IExtension offers educational programs in five broad areas: healthy society; food security and safety;environmental stewardship; sustainable and profitable food production and marketing systems; andenhancing youth, family and community well-beingLocal Foods and Small FarmsThere are 13 Local Food Systems and Small Farms (LFSSF) Educators working across the state toprovide Illinois residents with information, resources, and support to: (1) develop scale-appropriatebusiness and farm management plans for new and transitional producers; (2) increase locallygrown food commodity production; (3) increase understanding of marketing and distribution; and(4) improve implementation of food safety procedures for locally produced foods. Programssupported by LFSSF Educators include beginning farmer training, Good Agricultural Practices, andMarketReady.For more information, go to http://web.extension.illinois.edu, call us at (217) 782-4617 or find uson Facebook (Local Food Systems and Small Farms).