Learn about direct-market sales. 

Higginson Farm Market and Riverside Mercantile Store are teaming up with University of Illinois Extension to host the third of four twilight meetings at their newest location on Monday, July 17, at 6 p.m. Riverside Mercantile was established in 2023 as the third market location for owners Ty and Stephanie Higginson. During this twilight meeting, most of the discussion will center around marketing and the direct retail sales of local products. Throughout the evening, Stephanie will share her experiences involving the direct sales of their locally raised beef and how the business evolved into multiple locations that include many other local farmers and vendors. Some highlights include a brief overview of their production, processing, and differences between the market locations.

Explore Additional Programs in the Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series

During warm summer evenings, you’ll find our Local Foods team hosting events to highlight and demonstrate diverse farming enterprises across southern Illinois. Over the past eight years, the team has partnered with area farms to provide evening twilight meetings to allow participants to experience different types of production and marketing practices utilized by local producers.

Hydroponic Tomato and Strawberry Plasticulture Production | May 15 | Bass Farms (Cobden)

Pasture-Raised Livestock and Poultry | June 12 |  Burnt Hill Cattle Co. LLC (Dahlgren)

Cover Crops & Pumpkin Production | August 21 | The Patch (Marion)