Meet the Buyers meetings scheduled
Two regional meetings are scheduled during the next six weeks to match buyers with local produce farmers.
John Hawkins
Published: Feb 14, 2012
Farmers wanting to meet regional fresh produce buyers are invited to attend a Meet the Buyers event scheduled over the next few weeks:
- March 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Champaign County Farm Bureau, 801 N. Country Fair Dr., Champaign.
- April 4, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at John A. Logan Community College, 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville, IL.
Champaign meeting
“We have a great line up of buyers attending at the Champaign meeting such as Schnucks, Central Illinois Produce, Strawberry Fields, Common Ground, Feeding Illinois, Feeding America, Hendrick House, University of Illinois-Foodservice, and others,” states Cynthia Haskins, manager of business development and compliance, Illinois Farm Bureau. “We will also feature education sessions.”
Champaign County Farm Bureau and University of Illinois-Extension are the hosts for that event. Other collaborators include county Farm Bureaus throughout central Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Specialty Growers Association.
Please RSVP directly to the Champaign County Farm Bureau, (217) 352-5235 by March 22nd. The event is free to farmers.
Carterville meeting
“This event fits nicely with our efforts to promote regional collaboration around local food system development and showcases the “Can Do” spirit in Southern Illinois,” said Stephanie Brown, Ag, Energy, and Natural Resources Liaison with the ConnectSI Foundation.
Organizers include: Illinois Farm Bureau, University of Illinois, Illinois Specialty Growers Association, John A. Logan Community College, Office of Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, ConnectSI Foundation, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois USDA Rural Development, Williamson County Farm Bureau, Jackson-Union County Farm Bureaus and several other county Farm Bureau offices located throughout southern Illinois.
“The Illinois Specialty Growers Association is pleased to be a part of this initiative,” states Diane Handley, manager of the Illinois Specialty Growers Association. “The demand for local food continues to grow, and this is a great opportunity for specialty crop growers to expand their market outlets.”
Please RSVP directly to the Williamson County Farm Bureau at (618) 993-2609 by March 30th. The event is free to farmers.
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