Mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual Locally Grown FoodFest on Saturday August 8, 2009 in Washington Park in historic downtown Quincy, IL. Starting at 7 am with the Farmers Market the FoodFest celebrates the importance of local food, farms and businesses in the Tri-State area.

A twist on the popular chefs contest is a new Amateur Chef Competition. Participating teams will shop at the farmers market and then have 45 minutes to prepare and dazzle the judges and audience with their culinary talents.

You can show off your green thumb by entering the annual tomato contest. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest, sweetest and best dressed tomatoes. You can also submit your salsa made from locally grown tomatoes in the Salsa contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries.

If you want to show off both your brains and brawn, then enter the adult chore course competition. As the name implies, contestants will have the chance to take part in some traditional farm chores and answer farm-realted trivia questions.

The FoodFest is a great place to meet and talk to local farmers at the Quincy Farmers Market about their fresh produce and locally-raised meat products. Activities for kids and families, great food, informational booths, fun contests and live entertainment will be available throughout the day.

To find out more about the Locally Grown FoodFest call the U of I Extension office at 223-8380 or watch for updates at

Mark your calendars now for the 4th Annual Locally Grown FoodFest on Saturday August 2, 2008 in Washington Park in historic downtown Quincy, IL. Starting at 7 am with the Farmers Market the FoodFest celebrates the importance of local food, farms and businesses in the Tri-State area.

The popular Chefs Competition will be held again this year where area chefs will shop at the farmers market and then have 45 minutes to prepare and dazzle the judges and audience with their culinary talents.

You can show off your green thumb by entering the annual tomato contest. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest, sweetest and best dressed tomatoes. You can also submit your salsa made from locally grown tomatoes in the Salsa contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries.

The FoodFest is a great place to meet and talk to local farmers at the Quincy Farmers Market about their fresh produce and locally-raised meat products. Activities for kids and families, great food, informational booths, fun contests and live entertainment will be available throughout the day.

To find out more about the Locally Grown FoodFest call the U of I Extension office at 223-8380 or watch for updates at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/localgrown/421.html

URBANA – Bob and Coleen Blain retired as educators in suburban Chicago in 1994 and returned to Bob's roots in Iroquois County to a farm originally purchased in 1906 by Gilbert Demierre, Bob's grandfather. River Front Berry Farm takes its name from its border along the Iroquois River in Martinton. The farm is the location of a tour sponsored by University of Illinois Extension on Tuesday, September 22.

Visitors will learn about growing strawberries, red and black raspberries, blueberries, and gooseberries as well as other fruits such as apples, cherries, and peaches. And although "berry" is in the name, the farm also grows and sells vegetable crops such as asparagus, garlic, sweet corn, and over 20 other garden vegetables.

The Blains sell their produce at farmers' markets, but because they can't always be available to their customers at the farm, they rely on the honor system for the on-farm market. Signage in the market instructs customers on self selection, weighing, and packaging of the produce. Then customers are instructed to place payment for their purchase in the money can and to record their purchases on the form provided.

"We are very proud and honored to have customers who seek out our quality produce and respect our situation enough to honestly accommodate these conditions," said Bob Blain. "This system has worked very successfully since the origin of River Front Berry Farm. We regularly brag about how our customers allow this system to work. They are truly wonderful people."

The tour will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 1:00 p.m. after lunch at the farm.

"The Ford-Iroquois Unit has many outstanding producers such as the Blain family who have successfully established sustainable and organic enterprises," said Karen Moore, Ford-Iroquois County Extension Director. "It's interesting to learn how these endeavors move twenty-first century agriculture forward from the traditional crops grown by our ancestors."

More information about River Front Berry Farm can be found at http://www.riverfrontberryfarm.com.

A fee of $20 per person will be charged for the tour, which includes lunch.

Registration at least one week in advance is required. Visit https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/default.cfm?RegistrationID=2845 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@illinois.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, Agriculture and Tourism Partners of Illinois (ATPI), Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) at the University of Illinois, the Peoria Chapter of the Initiative for the Development for Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (IDEA, River Front Berry Farm, and University of Illinois, Extension Iroquois County Unit Office.

Friday August 7th from 12 noon - 4 pm

The Organic Agriculture Research program at Western Illinois University will be hosting its annual field day on Friday August 7th at the WIU/Allison Organic Farm and the neighboring Kane Farm in south-western Warren County, IL. The theme this year is Cover Crop Innovation. All attendees will receive a CD with profiles of over 40 organic and conventional grain farmers in the Midwest region that are cover crop innovators. Certified organic and conventional cover crop seed will be available for pick up at the field day at discounted prices for farmers that place orders in advance. Contact Andy Clayton (217) 322 2639 for more information about ordering seed.

The field day will start with a free lunch featuring local farm products. After lunch, a cover crop seed industry rep, an aerial applicator and a cover crop researcher will give short presentations and a farmer panel (including organic and conventional farmers) will answer questions about their experiences with cover crops. The field day will conclude with a walking tour of the research and production fields (including lots of cover crops) at the Allison Farm.

The lunch, expert presentations and farmer panel will take place 1 mile west of the Allison Farm at the Kane Farm (220 10th St, Roseville, IL).

If arriving from the north, travel on Rt. 67 five miles south of the Rt. 67 - Rt. 116 intersection in Roseville to County Rd. 20th Ave N, then turn west and travel five miles on 20^th Ave. to the Kane farm.

If arriving from the south, travel on Rt. 67 seven miles north of the Rt. 67 - Rt. 9 intersection in Good Hope to County Rd. 20th Ave N, then turn west and travel five miles on 20th Ave. to the Kane farm.

The Allison farm is located 1 mile east of the Kane Farm on the northwest corner of the intersection of County Rd. 20th Ave N and 20th Stree. Signs will be posted at both farms.

Please contact Andy Clayton (217) 322–2639 if you need additional assistance.

Registration
The field day is free and open to the public but advance registration is required for the lunch. To register, please contact Andy Clayton, AW-Clayton@wiu.edu, (309) 298-1172, (217) 322-2639 or the WIU Ag Office, (309) 298-1080. The WIU Organic Agriculture Research program website can be accessed via the following link: www.wiu.edu/ag/organicfarm.

Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 10:00 am

Village Vineyard and Winery

345 N Vermont St, Camp Point, IL 62320

There are three factors, sugar, acid, and pH, which can be tracked weekly after veraison that will reach optimum levels when the grapes are ready to harvest for winemaking. Accurately and quickly measuring these three factors is a skill needed by both grape growers and winemakers alike, in order to produce top quality wines. This workshop, sponsored by Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance at Rend Lake College, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Department of Agriculture is designed to give participants hands on experience working with special equipment used in measuring and determining grape ripeness. In addition to vineyard sampling of differing grape varieties and other fruits, winemakers are also invited to bring wine samples for analysis as well.

Workshop participants will meet at Village Vineyard and Winery, which is located northeast of Quincy in Adams County. Registration fees will be taken at the door starting at 9:30am and will be $25.00 per person. The program is scheduled to run from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by lunch. Please RSVP to Gordon Cantrell at chsbb32@adams.net for an accurate lunch count.

From Jacksonville, take US-67 N/ IL-104 west toward Beardstown/ Macomb. Travel just over 13.5 miles and turn left to stay on IL-104. Travel 4.0 miles before turning right onto IL-99. Travel just over 15.0 miles, then turn left onto US-24/ 800 E/ IL-99. Continue to follow US-24 for just over 17.0 miles before turning right onto South Ohio Street. Turn right onto East State Street. East State Street becomes North Vermont Street. The winery entrance will be on the right (east).

Don't forget to dress for the weather, since some of the workshop time will be spent in the vineyard. This is a hands on workshop, and participants are encouraged to bring their personal gear, including pruners, gloves and work boots. All testing equipment will be supplied, but participants are encouraged to bring their personal refractometer and or portable pH meter.

For more details or if disability accommodations are required, please contact Elizabeth Wahle at (618) 692-9434 or by email at wahle@uiuc.edu.

Sustainable Local Foods Farming, a new academic program that focuses on the skills needed to grow locally grown foods and market food crops, will start this fall at John Wood Community College.

The program will include classroom and hands-on training in agriculture, vegetable and small fruit production, entrepreneurship, and marketing. Students will gain the practical skills and knowledge needed to be successful agricultural entrepreneurs in this emerging industry. Students will be able to earn a 29-credit-hour certificate in Sustainable Local Foods Farming. State approval is pending and is expected before fall term begins.

Technical knowledge and skills will be gained through hand-on courses taught at JWCC's demonstration market garden, located on the Quincy campus.

"There is an increasing consumer demand for locally grown foods, and this program is being implemented to help meet this growing demand," explained Dr. Jeff Galle, JWCC director of agricultural sciences programs. "Local foods require the implementation of distinct production and land-use techniques to assure a financially sustainable industry. Locally grown foods initiatives provide agricultural production opportunities that require relatively small land and financial resources as well as minimal off-farm inputs.

"The program is designed with an emphasis on entrepreneurial skills," Galle explained. "It is about more than just how to plant, care for and harvest fruit and vegetable crops. It's also about how to market them and how to run a business on a limited amount of space—a business that is sustainable."

Students enrolled full time can complete the program in three terms: fall, spring and summer. However, students are welcome to enroll on a part-time basis as well.

JWCC was one of six community colleges in Illinois selected by the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to start a pilot program, in response to a growing demand for locally grown foods. The program is a joint effort between JWCC and the University of Illinois Extension—Adams/Brown Unit.

"This program was developed with a great deal of input from a local advisory council that concluded there is a distinct need for this program in our area," Dr. Galle explained. "The two local members of the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force—Carrie Edgar at the Extension Office and Gerry Kettler of Niemann Foods—have voiced their support for programs that prepare students to help meet the demand for locally grown food.

"Completion of the certificate program will prepare students to successfully enter the expanding local foods and sustainable agriculture industries," he said.

GETTING STARTED

Fall courses include
-- Fall Vegetable and Small Fruit Production
-- Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
-- Agricultural Entrepreneurship
-- Soil Management.

Additional courses include
-- Spring [and Summer] Vegetable and Small Fruit Production
-- Pest Management
-- Marketing Horticultural Crops
-- Greenhouse Production
-- One Agriculture or Computer Science Elective.

Tuition for residents of the JWCC District is $107 per credit hour. Pending U.S. Department of Education approval, this program will be financial aid eligible for qualified students.

For more information on the new program and the classes to be offered, call the JWCC Agricultural Education Center, 217.641.4558.

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Mark your calendars now for two upcoming events. University of Illinois Extension and County Market are sponsoring a salsa workshop on Tuesday July 21, 2009 at the Broadway County Market. Cost is only $5 per person and you can register on-line from our homepage at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/

The fifth annual Locally Grown Foodfest is fast approaching. This year's festival will be held Saturday August 8, 2009 in Waskington Park in downtown Quincy, IL. Click http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/adamsbrown/ for a schedule of events.