Farm to Facebook Live Chat: Illinois Agritourism Preview
Jul
26
7:30 PM19:30

Farm to Facebook Live Chat: Illinois Agritourism Preview

Juicy peaches, ripe blackberries, fresh-cut flowers, apple-cider donuts-- farms across Illinois are hitting pick season and offering up a variety of shopping options, on-line and on-farm, to make your summer safe, fun, and delicious. Join in partnership with Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois for the next Farm to Facebook Live Chat on Sunday, July 26th at 7:30 p.m. for an Illinois Agritourism Preview with Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Raghela Scavuzzo, Associate Director of Food Systems Development for Illinois Farm Bureau.

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Live Local Conference 2020
Mar
10
to Mar 12

Live Local Conference 2020

Illinois Farm Bureau & Illinois Farmers Market Association 2020 Live Local: Local Food & Farmers Market Annual Conference

Don't miss out on this EXCLUSIVE CONFERENCE! March 10-12, 2020.

Learn more and register: https://www.ilfb.org/get-involved/events/live-local/

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Lunch & Learn Workshop
Nov
15
11:00 AM11:00

Lunch & Learn Workshop

  • Tazewell Woodford Head Start (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

HUNGER & HEALTH
IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING HEALTHY EATING AT THE START

FOOD INSECURITY IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
1 IN 6 YOUTH IN ILLINOIS ARE CONSIDERED FOOD INSECURE.

Inadequate nutrition can permanently alter a child's brain growth leading to stunted IQ and learning/social challenges. Join us to learn the role hunger plays in a child's development, how to encourage children to try new foods, and how to offer foods repeatedly to shape healthy eaters.

11:00am - 11:30am
(lunch provided)

11:30am - 1:00pm
(workshop)

Presenter:

Kaitlyn Streitmatter
Extension Educator - IL Nutrition Education Program
University of Illinois Extension

To register, contact jill.mcclintock@uhsinc.com
(309) 221-9871

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RFFC Quarterly Network Meetup
Oct
25
9:00 AM09:00

RFFC Quarterly Network Meetup

See You at the next RFFC Network Meetup!
Don't miss the quarterly opportunity to gather with the growing network of people, businesses, and organizations engaged in building a strong regional food system. Come share your project, program, or business activity related to food system development and discuss your challenges and opportunities. Discover new partnerships toward building an accessible, sustainable, and economically viable regional food system!

RFFC Network Meetup
Friday October 25, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Peoria County Farm Bureau, 1716 N. University St, Peoria, IL

If you plan to attend please let us know HERE!
You can also let us know if you have something to share or a presentation to make to the group (you are encouraged to do so!)

We also suggest you bring a local food favorite to share! A local veggie, fruit, bread, jam, jelly, pickles, or whatever snack that highlights a local food producer. Thirty-Thirty Coffee will be provided.

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Greater Peoria Food Innovation Meetup
Jul
31
5:00 PM17:00

Greater Peoria Food Innovation Meetup

Do you have a locally produced food product you are trying to get on more shelves? Do you have a food industry technology? A product idea that requires a commercial kitchen? Maybe a restaurant or grocery trying to more efficiently source local foods?

Join us on Wednesday, July 31 for our inaugural Greater Peoria Food Innovation Meetup at Sous Chef in Peoria's historic Warehouse District!

This initial gathering of food innovators from across the region will focus on introductions, networking and conversations around the perceived gaps that exist in the overall food innovation ecosystem within Greater Peoria. All food innovators and entrepreneurs (established or aspiring) are welcome!

FREE EVENT - REGISTER HERE

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Down to Earth Systems Workshop at Spence Farms
Jul
19
to Jul 20

Down to Earth Systems Workshop at Spence Farms

A TWO DAY INTENSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ON REGENERATIVE SYSTEMS.

This exclusive, unique opportunity to gain insights into the inner workings of Spence Farms. They will look at soil and plant health management, equipment, livestock, grain production and milling, harvesting and packing, record keeping, marketing and building multi-farm cooperatives. This will be an intense and open discussion with plenty of time for questions and answers. Nothing held back!

Spence Farms will provide all meals, chef prepared! Also included will be plenty of specific information on resources, ideas and actual documents to help you model your farm or cooperative experience. Free on farm tent camping is available. Non-campers may seek accommodations at area hotels. This will be a great environment for sharing information between all participants. This two-day event is limited to the first 30 people. Cost is $500.00. To reserve your spot, email Marty at mandk@thespencefarm.com

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RFFC - Quarterly Network Meeting
Jul
12
9:00 AM09:00

RFFC - Quarterly Network Meeting

Mark your calendar for the next RFFC meeting! 

Come one and all to share your projects, programs, opportunities, and challenges toward building a strong regional food economy!

Have something you want to share with the group? Put together a 5 min presentation and bring materials to share. We intend for these meetings to be an opportunity for your to share your work, build partnerships, and find needed resources.

Planning to attend? Take a moment to let us know HERE.

Get the event agenda HERE

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Local Foods, Local Places Workshop
May
22
to May 23

Local Foods, Local Places Workshop

Organized by a variety of public and private partners, the Local Foods, Local Places workshop will take place Wednesday, May 22 andThursday, May, 23. We will concentrate on creating and implementing a local food plan, focusing in particular on Peoria’s South Side. We will build upon work already being done in the community, while drawing from relevant data and trends. Meals and refreshments will be available both days of the workshop.
 
Preceding the Wednesday workshop, there will be an interactive, pop-up tour of 1312 SW Adams, currently out for Request for Inquiry, envisioned as a Community Engagement Center addressing local food and health access needs. The location of the pop-up tour is only a few-hundred feet away from the workshop, so individuals can easily attend both events.
 
You can register for the event and pop-up tour here. Event times and locations listed below.
 
Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out:
Sara Maillacheruvu
City of Peoria, Community Development
309.494.8634
smaillacheruvu@peoriagov.org


Community Engagement Center Pop-Up Tour
Weds., May 22
1312 SW Adams St., Peoria, IL 61602
Two tours, choose preferred time
Tour, 3 – 3:45 pm
Tour, 4 – 4:45 pm
 
Workshop, Day 1
Weds., May 22
214 Pecan St., Peoria, IL 61602
5:30 – 8 pm
 
Workshop, Day 2
Thurs., May 23
214 Pecan St., Peoria, IL 61602
9 am – 5 pm

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Power of Procurement Conference
May
15
to May 17

Power of Procurement Conference

  • South Shore Cultural Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Power of Procurement: Good Food for our Future

This is a two day convening for national and regional food system leaders, designed to deepen the knowledge base and coordination of those interested in advancing food procurement strategies and the advocacy ecosystem of supportive municipalities.

Learn more at: https://powerofprocurement.org/

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Mindshare Midwest: Innovating the Food Chain of the Future
Apr
25
to Apr 26

Mindshare Midwest: Innovating the Food Chain of the Future

Mindshare Midwest brings together world-class business minds from various industries to share ideas and advance real leadership. The focus of the discussion shifts from year to year, similar to the ever-changing and fast-paced business climate you face today.

In 2019, we will be focusing on “Innovating the Food Chain of the Future: Celebrating the Life and Vision of Dr. Norman Borlaug.”

Register HERE.

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2019 Local Food Lobby Day
Apr
10
9:00 AM09:00

2019 Local Food Lobby Day

On Wednesday, April 10th, local food advocates, farmers, and citizens from across the state will come together in Springfield for Local Food Lobby Day to encourage their legislators to support local food and farms. Local Food Lobby Day will consist of a lobby training, a legislative update on the important bills, and lunch (consisting of locally grown and prepared food of course!). Join us in striking up honest conversations with our legislators about the importance of local food systems to our health, communities, and environment, and advocating for positive policy solutions that support local farms and wholesome food access for all.

Find more info and Register HERE

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RFFC - Quarterly Network Meeting
Apr
5
9:00 AM09:00

RFFC - Quarterly Network Meeting

  • Community Foundation of Central Illinois (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Mark your calendar for the next RFFC meeting!  This will kickoff the new schedule of Quarterly Network Meetings of the ever-expanding network of people and organizations working together to improve Greater Peoria's food system.

We are planning this as an interactive and creative meeting where everyone will participate in crafting an Aspirational Vision for our region's food system.  Be there to make sure your voice is heard and part of this Vision!  This Vision will be the foundation for a new regional sustainable food systems strategic plan.

There will also be time for sharing your projects and programs.  This is your time and place to gain new partners, find new resources, and make sure you are plugged in to the many great food systems developments in our region.

Planning to attend? Take a moment to let us know HERE

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