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A holiday wreath hangs on red barn doors
Read article: Find joy in holiday gift giving while supporting your local farm community
Find joy in holiday gift giving while supporting your local farm community
Imagine owning and running the business of your dreams, and not being in control of one of the most stressful aspects of a business: the cost of...
Green, red and white tomatoes
Read article: Local farmers rely on you this spring 
Local farmers rely on you this spring 
A full return to farmer's market season is upon us. Producers have faced many hurdles in the past few years; they are relying on your support to stay...
Read article: Cut flower grower builds community with his 'more than one person' approach
Cut flower grower builds community with his 'more than one person' approach
When I want to get inspired by my work with local small farmers, I make my way to Clara Joyce Flowers...
Stacked pumpkins in front of a hay bale
Read article: Choose local foods this Thanksgiving
Choose local foods this Thanksgiving
Celebrating the year’s crops with a Thanksgiving feast has been a tradition for over 400 years. Likely in 1621, individuals fed their families and...
A spread of different vegetables including brussel sprouts, carrots, bell peppers, potatoes, and garlic on a white table.
Read article: Shop farmers markets for your Thanksgiving meal
Shop farmers markets for your Thanksgiving meal
Locally grown foods aren’t shipped thousands of miles, which reduces the carbon footprint, supports our local growers, and offers tastier, more...
A bunch of daikon radishes with green stems attached
Read article: Ask your local growers about daikon radishes
Ask your local growers about daikon radishes
Most people are familiar with radishes, those red-skinned, white-flesh, peppery vegetables often found on a salad bar. However, there are many other...
LINK accepted here sign next to farm fresh produce
Read article: Shopping on a budget at farmers markets
Shopping on a budget at farmers markets
Every year, Illinoisans all over the state take advantage of farmers markets for local, fresh, in-season produce. Illinois is ranked #3 in the nation...
Text says "make the most of berry season" with a picture of a dozen blackberries in the background.
Read article: Make the most of berry season
Make the most of berry season
Berry season is arriving quickly, and it’s what gets me the most excited for those first few farmers markets near the end of May and early June where...

News Releases

caucasian man in hat standing in field holding pink flowers
Fields of dreams: From 4-H to cut flower grower
​NORTHERN ILLINOIS – When Local Foods Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty is looking for inspiration, he makes his way to Clara Joyce Flowers. There, farmer Drew Groezinger inevitably has something new going on. There are high tunnels being...
cardboard box full of large and small tomatoes and banana peppers
Central Illinois communities come together to feed families
COLES COUNTY, Ill. – When MaryBeth Massey developed a project to address food insecurity in her hometown, she wanted to start small. By partnering with a local Amish community produce auction, she aimed to provide 1,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need in 2019.  ...
Master gardeners to answer questions in-person at the farmer's market
MONTICELLO, Ill. – There is so much information available at our fingertips. How do you know which advice to follow? University of Illinois Extension is here to alleviate uncertainty by providing research-based answers to your questions. “Our skilled and knowledgeable Piatt County...
Eat more fruits and vegetables with the help of your local farmers market
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – For Illinois residents who fall within the one in 10 American adults who don’t eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, farmers markets offer the chance for consumers to up their fruit and vegetable intake while supporting local farmers. The variety of...
Farmers Markets and COVID-19 Guidelines for 2021
The 2021 farmers’ market season has already officially begun in some parts of the state. There are still plenty of cool-season vegetables available on the vendor tables, as well as freshly cut spring flowers and lots of herb and vegetable seedlings. Many of our local farmers have had the help of...

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