Register for Farmers Market 101 workshops!

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Spring Farmers Market 101 Workshops
9AM - 3:30PM
April 12 - Carbondale
April 13 - Champaign
April 26 - Sterling
More dates coming soon!

Join us for an engaging, interactive full-day training! These workshops will cover market management, resource development, marketing initiatives, emergency preparedness, Link and Link Match funding opportunities, networking, and more. Farmers Market staff, vendors, volunteers, and others will discover new information and ideas to improve your market, business, and community.

These workshops are free of charge and include locally sourced continental breakfast and lunch ($20 refundable lunch guarantee). Click the button below for more information and to register.

FM 101 workshops are supported by an Illinois Specialty Crop Grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

FM 101 Workshop

Grant Opportunities for Farmers, Farmers Markets & Vendors

Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America grant opportunity for farmers market organizations and the cooperative’s farmer vendors is now available! Illinois farmers markets within Compeer's 40 county territory in the state can apply for up to $1000 in funding. Farmers market vendors can apply for up to $500. Click HERE for more information and to apply. Applications will be accepted on-line through February 28, 2023.

Frontera Farmers Foundation grant application is open! Grants will be awarded for capital improvements of up to $12,000 to small and mid-size family farms located in Illinois (and other midwestern states) that sell their food products to customers in the Chicago area at farmer’s markets and otherwise. Click HERE for more information or to apply. Deadline to apply is March 13.

Listening Sessions for
Sustainable Food Systems in IL

The Illinois Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, is bringing together stakeholders to create a meaningful, sustainable model to bridge the gap between underserved farmers/ranchers' locally grown/raised products and food insecure communities.

The Local Food Purchasing Assistance program prioritizes ensuring that culturally appropriate fresh foods are available to food insecure communities by building a resilient food system and collaborative network of food system support.

Your input is essential - join one of the local listening sessions taking place around the state. This is a great opportunity to share how you would design a sustainable local food system for Illinois!

Listening session locations are listed below, click linked locations to register -
February 21 - Peoria
February 22 - Marion
February 23 - Millstadt
February 28 - Elgin
March 3 - Kankakee
March 22 - Galesburg
Virtual session in late March (exact date TBD).

Click the button below for more information and to register!

Listening Sessions Information

2022-23 ILFMA Winter Farmers Market List

Check out our Winter Farmers Market info sheet, updated for 2022-23 - a great resource for anyone who wants to keep shopping local this winter. New for this year - markets that accept Link/SNAP are clearly noted!

Don't see your winter market listed? Email us at info@ilfma.org. Please include market location, dates and times in your email.

Winter Farmers Market List

Want to see or review our recent Social Media Webinar series? These and many other past presentations can be accessed through ILFMA's YouTube channel! Click the button below to access.

New webinar topics/dates coming soon!

ILFMA YouTube Channel

Farmers markets don't hibernate - Join ILFMA and help in our mission to keep Illinois farmers and farmers markets going strong throughout the year. ILFMA members receive discounts for all ILFMA courses and classes and save on Manage My Market fees too.Use the button below to join, and click HERE to find out more about Manage My Market, the online platform that helps make your application process easier and more efficient.

Join ILFMA

Do you have a profile on MarketMaker, and are you registered in the Buy Fresh Buy Local Illinois directory? Register (or update your profile) at il.foodmarketmaker.com so you can take advantage of both of these great marketing tools for farmers and farmers markets.

This group connects farmers market managers across the state of Illinois, allowing them to network, discuss challenges, and most importantly share resources, inspiration, opportunities, and best practices. ILFMA supports working together to create opportunities for cross promotion locally, regionally and statewide!

Click here to request to join on Facebook

Our mission is to support local food and food systems by giving Illinois farmers markets and producers access to resources, education, and connections in order to grow healthier and economically vibrant communities.

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Illinois Farmers Market Association · 734 Remington Lane · North Aurora, Il 60542 · USA