Our Blog
Meet Me at the Market!
Thanks to all who attended our first Meet Me at the Market! We're currently planning our next Market Meet Up, date and location coming soon. Check back for more details and we'll see you at the market!
The Pleasures of Eating Locally: Five Unique Farm-to-Table Restaurants to Experience in Illinois
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...
Illinois Dairy is Udderly Delicious!
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...
The power of the flower: Boost your mood, and the local economy, by supporting local flower farmers
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...
Building, Growing, and Resilience: Shining a Light on Illinois’ BIPOC Farmers
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...
Grains Galore: From Rice to Spirits, Illinois Artisan Grains are Rising to the Occasion
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...
Discover Amazing Farm Finds in 2024 with Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has surged in popularity since 2020 when the COVID 19 Pandemic started to impact food distribution across the United States. Although not a new concept within the farming industry (early CSA models in the United States date back...
Savor Autumn in Illinois with Agritourism Adventures
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...
August is THE month to visit a local farm market
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...
Savor the Seasons with Farm to Table Restaurants
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...
Flowers and Bees: The Essence of Spring from Local Illinois Farmers
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...
WIC/FMNP Opportunity for Farmers!
Are you a farmer who is interested in accepting WIC or Senior Farmers Market coupons? Do you sell in a county where the program operates? Determine your eligibility by checking to make sure that you sell in a county where the program operates (click HERE to see a map...
Amber Waves of Local Grain as More Farmers Offer Healthy, Sustainable, Tasty Options
Don’t you just love the aroma of artisan bread, fresh and warm from the bakery or your home oven. Makes you want to eat it right away, by itself or with some local creamery butter. And increasingly, that artisan bread is made from healthful, sustainably produced grain...
ILFMA Winter Farmers Markets
ILFMA 2022-23 Winter Farmers Market List!Winter is a great time to continue shopping at your favorite farmers market, and/or maybe plan a trip to one that's new to you! Many farmers markets across Illinois continue through the winter months. Farmers are employing...
Not Your Usual Holiday Gift: Surprise Family and Friends with Delicious Food Products (and Learn About Illinois’ New Farm to Market Act)
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...
Delight Yourself and Your Guests at Thanksgiving with a Sumptuous, Pasture-Raised Local Turkey
You don’t need any hints to figure out why our November article is about locally raised turkeys. Thanksgiving, aka “Turkey Day,” is coming up on November 24, and according to the Nielsen consumer research firm, more than three-quarters of all turkeys sold in the...
Celebrating National Co-op Month With a Look at Two Community-Building Grocery Stores
To the casual shopper, a food cooperative, or co-op may look like any small independent grocery. But it is so much more. And that is why our latest Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois article is celebrating October as National Co-op Month by featuring two thriving co-ops at...
Agritourism Abounds as Folks Head to Illinois Farms for Fun in the Fall
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. ...
Food, Flowers and Fun!
2025 ILFMA Fundraiser! Springfield, Illinois Join ILFMA at Bloom Wine Bar on Wednesday, January 29 for our Food, Flowers and Fun! fundraiser. Your ticket includes heavy appetizers, live music, the chance to build your own beautiful bouquet (for an added fee) and a...
Farmers Market Vendor Bootcamp
ILFMA is partnering with the Good Food Accelerator for a virtual farmers market Vendor Bootcamp series! Learn what makes a great farmers market vendor, how to get into the market of your dreams and more. Join us for four seminars (held via Zoom) this November and...
Market Mondays
Join ILFMA and market managers from across Illinois on the first Monday of the month for online networking and casual discussions.