Allowable Food

Local Food Purchasing Assistance Allowable Food List

This guide lists foods that can be purchased using Local Food Purchasing Assistance funding. It reflects a list of agricultural products commonly produced in Illinois and cultural foods that could be grown in Illinois as indicated by USDA hardiness zones. Email uie-lfpa@illinois.edu for questions related to items on this list.

Allowable food products must be grown and produced in Illinois and include fruits and vegetables (including 100% juices); grain products such as pasta and rice; meats (whole, pieces, or food items such as ground meats); meat alternates such as beans or legumes, and fluid milk and other dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt. Foods in various minimal processing states (e.g., whole, cut, pureed, etc.) and forms (e.g., fresh, frozen, canned, dried, etc.) are also permissible.

Foods that are generally understood to be significantly processed or prepared can not be purchased with LFPA funds. Examples of unallowable products include baked goods such as bread, muffins, or crackers; prepackaged sandwiches or meals; other prepared and pre-cooked items that come ready-to-eat or require no further preparation beyond heating (e.g., chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pre-made pizzas, etc.).

 

Food List

Fruits

The following fruits can be purchased using LFPA funds:

Fruit may be whole, cut, pureed, fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. 100% juice is permissible if it is pasteurized.

  • Apples*
  • Apricots
  • Berries
    • Blackberries
    • Blueberries
    • Currants
    • Gooseberries
    • Raspberries
    • Strawberries
  • Cherries
  • Grapes*
  • Melons
    • Cantaloupe/Muskmelon
    • Honeydew
    • Watermelon*
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches*
  • Plums
  • Pears*
  • Rhubarb

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Vegetables

The following vegetables can be purchased using LFPA funds:

Vegetables may be whole, cut, pureed, fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. 100% juice is permissible if it is pasteurized.

  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus*
  • Beets*
  • Bell peppers*
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli*
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Carrots*
  • Cauliflower*
  • Corn*
  • Celery*
  • Chilis/Hot peppers*
  • Cucumbers*
  • Eggplant*
  • Fennel
  • Garlic*
  • Ginger*
  • Greens*
    • Arugula
    • Cabbage*
    • Chard
    • Collard greens*
    • Endive
    • Kale
    • Lettuce*
    • Microgreens
    • Mustard greens*
    • Spinach*
    • Specialty greens
    • Sprouts
  • Herbs
    • Basil*
    • Cilantro*
    • Chives
    • Dill
    • Mint
    • Oregano*
    • Parsley
    • Rosemary
    • Sage*
    • Tarragon
    • Thyme
  • Horseradish
  • Jalapenos*
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leeks
  • Mushrooms*
  • Okra*
  • Onions*
  • Peas*
  • Potatoes*
  • Pumpkins
  • Radishes
  • Rutabagas
  • Snacking peppers
  • Snap beans
  • Squash*
    • Acorn
    • Butternut
    • Chayote*
    • Delicata
    • Spaghetti
    • Yellow
    • Zucchini*
  • Sunchoke
  • Sweet potatoes/Yams*
  • Tomatoes*
  • Tomatillos*
  • Turnips*

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Grains

The following grain products can be purchased using LFPA funds:

Baked goods such as bread, muffins, or crackers cannot be purchased. Products such as pasta and rice are allowable.

  • Amaranth
  • Buckwheat
  • Cornmeal*
  • Flour*
  • Grits*
    • Whole grain grits*
  • Hominy*
  • Millet*
  • Oats/Oatmeal*
  • Pasta*
    • Whole wheat pasta*
  • Popcorn
  • Quinoa
  • Rice*
    • Brown rice*
    • White rice*
  • Sorghum
  • Tortillas*
    • Corn tortillas*
    • Flour tortillas*
    • Whole wheat tortillas*
  • Wheat

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Dairy

The following dairy products can be purchased using LFPA funds:

All dairy products must be pasteurized.

  • Butter
  • Cheese*
  • Cottage cheese*
  • Cream
  • Goat milk
  • Milk*
  • Queso fresco cheese*
  • Sour cream*
  • Soy milk*

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Plant Proteins

The following plant proteins can be purchased using LFPA funds:

Beans and legumes can be purchased fresh or dry. Raw ingredients must be grown in Illinois, and the final product must be processed in Illinois.

  • Beans (Dry)
    • Adzuki/Red chori bean*
    • Black beans*
    • Chickpeas*
    • Fava beans*
    • Kidney beans*
    • Lentils*
    • Lima beans
    • Pinto beans*
    • Soybeans
  • Beans (Fresh)
    • Edamame*
    • Fava beans*
    • Lima beans
  • Nuts
    • Chestnuts
    • Hickory nuts
    • Pecans
    • Walnuts
  • Tofu*

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Animal Proteins

The following animal proteins can be purchased using LFPA funds:

All cuts of meat can be purchased including whole, ground, offal, breasts, steaks, shanks, or roasts. Meat may be fresh, frozen, or dried. It can not be cooked.

  • Beef
  • Bison
  • Chicken*
  • Duck*
  • Eggs*
  • Fish*
    • Catfish*
  • Goat
  • Lamb
  • Pork*
  • Sheep
  • Turkey*

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide

Specialty Products

The following specialty products can be purchased using LFPA funds:

Foods under the Cottage Foods Law exemption are not eligible. Raw ingredients must be grown in Illinois, and the final product must be processed in Illinois.

  • Applesauce
  • Honey**
  • Maple syrup
  • Pasteurized 100% juice**
  • Salsa
  • Tomato sauce*

*Indicates a product requested on the Cultural Food Guide
**Indicates a product that may require specialized training, licensing, certification, and/or analysis to sell and produce

Acknowledgements

This guide included content from the LFPA Plus FAQ. This list was compiled using information from the following organizations:

  • USDA
  • Illinois Department of Agriculture
  • Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Connecticut Department of AgricultureIllinois Farm Bureau
  • Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program
  • South Carolina Department of Agriculture
  • University of Illinois Extension