WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderNorthern Illinois Farm Food Directory Now Available

Northern Illinois Farm Food Directory Now Available

(PRESS RELEASE) WINNEBAGO COUNTY - The University of Illinois Extension-Winnebago County is pleased to announce the completion of their Directory of Local Food for Northern Illinois.

The directory, which has been in the development since June, features over 65 farms in the area, all of which provide opportunities to buy fruit, vegetables, herbs, cheese, meat and other products grown in Northern Illinois.  The directory also provides a listing of local Farmers Markets and businesses which carry food grown locally.

Consumers who are looking for food which is available directly from the farm can use this directory to locate producers who sell to the public.  The directory provides information about each farm's products, as well as address, phone and email addresses.  "This spring, I was looking for a local cheese producer to supply cheese for a Winnebago County 4-H and Extension Foundation event," said Jane Anderson, Roscoe, who is president of the Foundation. "I was not able to find a listing of cheese producers, let alone any listing of local producers for our area. I suggested that the U of I Extension Office could compile this listing as part of their programming in this area."  Funding for the project was provided by the local 4-H and Extension Foundation, as well as a grant from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education project of the University of Illinois.

The directory is available from the Extension Office, located at 1925 S. Meridian Rd, Rockford, or by calling 815-986-4357.