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Tri-State Local Food Policy Council
The Tri-State Food Policy Council brings together citizens to provide a comprehensive examination of a local food system. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings. The Tri-State Food Policy Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm. Meeting locations are rotated around the Tri-States, please call 217-223-8380 to confirm the location of each month's meeting.
The Council currently has several projects in the works including the launch of the Locally Grown logo for farmer use and plans for a local food drive to benefit area food pantries. Click here to find out more about the Tri-State Local Food Policy Council.
Come Join Us at the Market
...The Quincy and Mt. Sterling Farmers Markets that is. University of Illinois Extension in collaboration with the Quincy and Mt. Sterling Farmers Market will be offering a variety of activities throughout the 2008 growing season to celebrate locally produced food. The activities will vary throughout the season, but will include events such as:
- Taste of the Market food demonstrations
- What's Bugging You-help in identifying your garden pests
- Ask the Master Gardener-answers to all of your gardening questions
- Locally Owned-information on supporting your local businesses
- Ag Magic-agriculture and natural resource activities for youth
- Food Magic-nutrition and gardening activities for youth
Stop by to also get the latest information on canning, freezing and pickling; tips on selecting, storing and preparing a variety of fruits and vegetables; recipes; schedules of upcoming Locally Grown events; and information on the local farmers and producers in our area.
The Quincy Farmers Market gets underway at 7:00 am on Saturday May 17, 2008 at Washington Park in downtown Quincy, IL. Look for us to be there opening day, the first and third Saturday of June, July, August, and September, and closing day October 4, 2008. Dates for the Mt. Sterling Farmers Market have yet to be determined, but stay posted to this website for updates as they become available.
2008 Sustainable Agriculture Tours Scheduled
URBANA - For the sixth consecutive year, University of Illinois Extension is offering tours that highlight sustainable agriculture operations around the state of Illinois.
"Sustainable agriculture looks a little different as each operation develops its own niche products, agritourism opportunities and other enterprises to maintain or supplement farm income," said Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture Extension Specialist who is coordinating the tours.
The schedule for the 2008 sustainable agriculture tours is as follows:
May 18, Eagle Dancer Ridge Llamas, Inc. in East Peoria www.edrlamas.com
June 20, Learn Great Foods in Mount Carroll www.learngreatfoods.com
July 11, Lyons Fisheries in Sandoval
July 22, Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm Community Supported Agriculture www.localharvest.org/farms/M5067
August 8, University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, Dixon Springs www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/dixonsprings This tour is being co-sponsored by the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network mosesorganic.org
September 8, Iyabo Farms in Hopkins www.sustainusa.org/familyfarmed/profile_iyabo.html
October 3, Mill Creek Farm in Quincy www.millcreekfarmquincy.com
A fee of $20 per person will be charged for each tour, which includes lunch. Registration at least one week in advance is required. Visit www.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/ to register and for more details about each of the tours including a map and agenda. To register by phone, contact Donna Cray at 217-241-4644. For more information, contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant (217-968-5512; cvnghgrn@uiuc.edu).
University of Illinois Extension is a statewide educational network that links the resources and research of the University of Illinois to the people of Illinois. The programs and workshops, which take place throughout the state, address issues involving youth, families, community development, agriculture, and natural resources. If reasonable accommodations are needed in order to participate in any of the programs, call 217-241-4644.
The tours are sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program, the Agriculture Tourism Partners of Illinois (www.agritourismillinois.com), and the Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program at the University of Illinois.
