Welcome to the Local Foods blog for Northwest Illinois. My name is Grant McCarty and I am the Local Foods and Small Farms Educator for Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. This blog is set up to provide information on upcoming programs, resources, regional and national issues, and emerging topics for the area. I'll also be spotlighting an Insect of the Week that you should be on the lookout for in your backyard or operation. As you know with a local food system, it is all about connecting grower/producer with consumer and most cases we think solely of the farmers markets. But it also means the community gardens, farm to school efforts, meat/egg/cheese producers, CSAs, orchards, pick-your-own, farm to table, and so much more.

With that, the season is finally here. Crops are growing. Markets open for the season. The time for seasonal eating is now. I'll be sharing with you all the exciting things that are happening in our area.

Grant