Jan,
I am not aware of any specific restaurants or specialty markets that carry freshwater prawn in your area. While I would be surprised if the product couldn't be obtained in one of the larger towns in your region it would probably not be produced locally. And that may prove to be a selling point for you.
I do not know what your production levels might be, however, several producers in the southern part of the state started off their marketing efforts with on-farm harvest festivals rather than wholesaling to restaurants and specialty markets. Some were pretty elaborate at creating an agritourism experience by having the local Boy Scouts park cars and other community groups operate consession stands, etc. By developing the "experience" most seemed fairly successful at adding value to their crop.
If you are interested in identifying target markets off of the farm, I would suggest you check out the IL MarketMaker site at http://www.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/. You can use this site to identify areas of marketing potential by consumer demographics or by locating retail businesses that might carry products of the type you would supply.
Also, please check out the website for the Shawnee Prawn Producers Association. You may even consider joining to network with other producers and marketers. Their website is http://shawneeprawn.org/Festivals/festivals.htm.
Good Luck developing your ideas!
