Our Blog

When was the last time you sat down at a restaurant and recognized where the ingredients on your plate came from? When you dine at a farm-to-table restaurant, you may recognize the farms and businesses involved in growing and processing the ingredients used in your...

June is National Dairy month, and although dairy is worth celebrating every month, we use the month of June to highlight Illinois farms that are working hard to make local (and udderly delicious) dairy products available to consumers. From kefir to curds, cow milk to...

Nothing says “HELLO SUMMER” like a bouquet of fresh, locally-grown flowers. Flowers provide a glimmer of joy, a pop of color, a boost in your mood, and a delightful smell. The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, which can be further enhanced when you can...

It is well known that farmers of color are under-represented in the United States. But in recent years, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) farmers in Illinois have joined the growing movement of young farmers, and are finding ways to build equitable food...

When we talk about Artisan Grains, many of you may think about whole grain wheat and flours used to make breads and other baked goods. It’s likely you may have had some experience in bread baking during the COVID-19 pandemic when we were stuck at home looking for ways...

It’s always great to visit a farm and get to know the farmers who grow our food. But there’s no better time than September and October, as the heat of summer gives way to the cool comforts of autumn, and a ride in the beautiful Illinois countryside can lead to...

This year’s National Farmers Market Week is August 6-12, and Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA) joins markets from across the country in celebrating the positive impacts farmers markets have. Farmers markets provide access to delicious, nutritious locally...

Over the past few decades, chefs and restaurateurs in locations throughout the state have also been serving diners with fresh, delicious, sustainably produced vegetables, fruit and produce from farms close to home. In this article, Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois...

There was a popular song in the 1960s that starts “Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees, and the flowers and the trees…”. Well, it’s finally spring, so Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois is here to tell you about two great businesses, one that is focused on flowers...

Are you a farmer who is interested in accepting WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits? You can determine your eligibility by checking to make sure that you sell in a county where the program operates. Click here to review a map of the 37...

It is holiday gift season. And it is easy for Illinois residents to find and purchase delicious homemade food products to present to family and friends as unique gifts. That because the state’s new Home to Market Act, enacted in 2021 and effective at the start of this...

Agritourism is a big thing throughout Illinois’ growing season, with visitors welcomed to places such as flower farms and berry patches. But the draw is greatest in the late summer and early fall when apple orchards and pumpkin patches are at their peak production. ...