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Farmers meet buyers at Galesburg session

The Illinois Farm Bureau is helping to connect local farmers with buyers for their crops. That’s important for sustainable programs that work to deliver f...

The Illinois Farm Bureau is helping to connect local farmers with buyers for their crops.

That's important for sustainable programs that work to deliver food from farms to dinner tables.

Local growers already are great at finding new crops. August featured the first garlic harvest for the University of Illinois Extension. It's a profitable crop with a lot of demand, and it doesn't take a lot of labor.

Fourth generation farmer David Kilgore, Rio, is looking for more clients to buy his specialty crops.

"I can grow a lot of things, and I'm real good at it," he said. "But if theres no market for it, I don't make any money at it."

That's why dozens of farmers like Kilgore are in Galesburg on Monday. They came for the first "Meet the Buyers" event. It connects growers with retail and restaurant decision-makers.

"We can have the local farmers drop off produce for you to use for your restaurant that was maybe even picked that morning," said Jenna Muzzio, who coordinates food at the Sustainable Business Center in Galesburg.

Non-traditional crops are getting lots of attention these days. At the Quad Cities Food Hub in Davenport, the session is a way to build business while showcasing local growers and products.

"It's what we're looking for as a buyer," said Wendy Saathoff, retail manager for the Quad Cities Food Hub. "I was able to make a lot of good contacts and gain that support."

These collaborations are turning into real connections. It's growing the farm economy by making the right business decisions.

A June harvest turned heads in Warren County. That's where pennycress could become a new cash crop. Pennycress oil can be a source for biodiesel and aviation fuel.

"If we can meet the needs of our locals, then maybe we can branch out like our big brothers in agriculture who sell to the world," Kilgore said.

One clove at a time, farmers and buyers are discovering the strong smell of success.

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