molly, Author at Illinois Buy Fresh Buy Local

Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois is now Illinois Grown

Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinoisis proud to announce that it will soon become Illinois Grown. Illinois Grown is a program of the Illinois Department of Agriculture that identifies products grown in Illinois or containing at least one ingredient grown in Illinois.

Meet Six Illinois Farmers Markets Ready For You to Be Their Guests

August is bursting with seasonal favorite products such as peaches, apples, sweetcorn, and more. Let us help you plan your next market visit with six fabulous Illinois farmers markets, all Buy Fresh Buy Local members, and all ready for you to be their guest.

The Pleasures of Eating Locally: Five Unique Farm-to-Table Restaurants to Experience in Illinois

In this month’s blog post, we feature five unique farm-to-table restaurants to experience in Illinois, all of which provide immense pleasure in eating locally and supporting local business.

Illinois Dairy is Udderly Delicious!

From yogurt to cheese curds, cows milk to goats milk, Illinois dairy producers are making a name for themselves through their dedication to fresh, high-quality dairy. If you’re looking for udderly delicious Illinois dairy products, this month’s Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois blog post will help you get started! Get to know Rocky Road Dairy, All Grass Farms, Rolling Lawn Farm, Ropp Jersey Cheese, and Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery.

The power of the flower: Boost your mood, and the local economy, by supporting local flower farmers

As a consumer, you hold a lot of power in your purchases. In this month’s blog post, we share how the power of local flowers can be a boost for not only your mood, but the local economy. We’ll share these insights while highlighting a handful of fabulous flower farms (and a few honey businesses businesses) across Illinois.

Building, Growing, and Resilience: Shining a Light on Illinois’ BIPOC Farmers

BIPOC farmers in Illinois are finding ways to build equitable food systems, grow their communities, and promote resilience across Illinois. Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois is honored to shine a light on three amazing Illinois farms in this month’s blog.

Photos Of Grain Producers From This Article, Map Of Illinois Indicating Location Of Each Farm

Grains Galore: From Rice to Spirits, Illinois Artisan Grains are Rising to the Occasion

In this month’s blog post, we head out on a journey of grains galore beginning Southern Illinois at Cahokia Rice, then we’ll work our way north to Central Illinois where we’ll visit Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains and Silver Tree Beer & Spirits, and then move into Northern Illinois to complete our artisan grain journey at Breslin Farms.

Discover Amazing Farm Finds in 2024 with Community Supported Agriculture

Community supported agriculture, or more commonly referred to as a CSA, is growing in popularity as a means for receiving a subscription to farm products throughout the growing season. However, across Illinois, there are CSAs that include some amazing farm finds spanning beyond produce that you don’t want to miss out on in 2024.

Four ways to beef up (pun intended) your shopping list to include more pasture raised meats

As we start a new year, you may be thinking of additional ways that you can eat a more healthful diet while supporting your local food economy. One way to do this is to eat more pasture raised meats. In this month’s blog post, we offer up four ways to beef up (pun intended) your shopping list to include more pasture raised meats.

Homemade Holiday Gift Guide: 6 local food gifts that taste like home and support small businesses

A tasty homemade food gift is the present everyone loves. Thanks to the Illinois Home-to-Market Act, and Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois’ online directory, it's easier than ever to find and purchase delicious products to present to family and friends as unique gifts.

Time to gobble up locally raised Thanksgiving turkeys

Thanksgiving turkey is one of the hardiest traditions for many Americans, so much so that the holiday long ago was dubbed as “Turkey Day.” Its place in American culture is enshrined in Norman Rockwell’s famous painting of the hosts presenting…

Hope Rises in Cairo Around New Food Co-Op

October is National Co-op Month. To celebrate, we share the uplifting story of Rise Community Market in Cairo, located at the southern tip of Illinois. A food co-op is a grocery store that’s owned and managed by people who shop…