Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On Sept. 21, Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced that funding is available for farmers’ markets to expand their advertising through his Opportunity Returns program.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and Illinois Specialty Growers Assoc. have been busy with a new logo to bring attention to Illinois specialty products.

Grant funds have been used to develop “Illinois, Where Fresh Is.” This marketing campaign brands Illinois food products and encourages consumers to buy local and buy fresh.

The idea behind it is to allow Illinois farmers and specialty crop companies that are eligible to use the “Illinois, Where Fresh Is” logo. This lets consumers quickly and easily identify specialty crops at farmers’ markets and grocery stores.

To receive permission to use the logo, producers who sell Illinois-grown produce, fruits and other horticultural commodities need to submit an application to IDOA. By enrolling in the program, the producer will receive a list of sales materials with the logos that can be purchased at cost and used at community farmers’ markets, roadside stands and grocery stores.

Questions about the program should be e-mailed to delaine.reeves@illinois. gov or directed to 217-524-9129. The application can be found online at

www.agr.state.il.us/markets/farmers/ wherefreshisap.pdf

This farm news was published in the Sept. 26, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.