Greetings!
The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is working to build support for local food systems in the legislature and in communities across the state. Join us in this exciting developing field and support the Illinois Stewardship Alliance with a year-end gift by clicking here. Any amount, from $15 - $500, will help ISA continue to serve producers, eaters, and communities in Illinois. ISA is serving small farmers and Illinois' citizens by advocating for local, state and federal policies that support ecologicially sustainable, economically viable and socially just food systems.
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Over the past two years Illinois Stewardship Alliance: |
- Established "Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois" program to promote locally produced food, expand markets for local producers and increase availability of fresh foods in Central Illinois communities.
- Organized "Local Flavors" lunch and dinner series in both Springfield and Bloomington-Normal, which expanded markets for area local food producers, showed area restaurants the high-quality local products that are available and gave consumers the opportunity to show their support for local farms and local businesses.
- Advocated for sound sustainable agriculture and local food system policy: tracked state and federal legislation, hosted a farmer fly-in to Washington DC, testified to the Illinois Senate Ag Committee about pesticode drift, raised awareness about farm bill programs including the Conservation Stewardship Program and Value Added Producer Grants, supported Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force and more.
- Provided farmer training and workshops: Farmer-Food Buyer Networking Event, Conservation Stewardship Program workshops, Hoop House tour for expanded seasonal production, Organic Certification Farm Tour, Holiday Market in Springfield, Wholesale Workshops and more.
- Raised consumer awareness about local food system: Hosted film screenings such as King Corn, Food Fight and Food, Inc., Local Flavors events, established Springfield Local Food Task Force, and presented at community groups, conferences and events about the economic, social, and environmental importance of local food systems.
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