Specialty Growers

Welcome to the ISGA

The Illinois Specialty Growers Association (ISGA) was formed in 1989 to improve the coordination and cooperation among our individual associations.

ISGA is an umbrella organization for the following affiliated associations:

• Illinois Herb Association
• Illinois Irrigation Association
• Illinois State Horticultural Society
• Illinois Vegetable Growers Association

History:

The purpose of ISGA is the promotion and development of the Illinois specialty crop industry.

Originally called the Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Foundation, the Illinois Specialty Growers Association changed its name to reflect changes in the marketplace.  The name acknowledges the importance of a diverse number of crops commercially produced in Illinois.  

Contact Us:  Jim Fraley, JFraley@ilfb.org or 309-557-3109.
                     Charlene Blary, CBlary@ilfb.org or 309-557-2107.

 

 

ISGA Facebook page! Check it out at: Facebook.com/ILSpecialty

ISGA Accomplishments - Click here to see what has been accomplished in 2015 with the assistance of your membership dues.  

Download ISGA Membership - Click to see a membership application. 

ISGA Newsletter Advertising
ISGA publishes a newsletter three times a year with timely information pertaining to our association in general as well as each of the four affiliated associations.  If you would like to consider advertising in our publication, please e-mail Charlene at cblary@ilfb.org for a sample newsletter and a copy of the Newsletter Advertising Package. 

   
      

ISGA Farmers Market Tent at the 2017 Illinois State Fair

The Illinois Specialty Growers Association will be sponsoring the 17th Farmers’ Market at the Illinois State Fair (August 10-20, 2017).  The farmers’ market will actually be in the same tent as the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the Corner of Center and Main (new location!).  Hours are 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.  We will be selling sweet corn, apple cider slush, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, popcorn, and fresh garden salads.  Plan to stop by the tent for the freshest food at the state fair!  If you are interested in working at the tent selling produce one of the days, you will receive complimentary parking and gate passes.  Contact Jim at JFraley@ilfb.org or 309-557-2109 if interested.  We need help promoting YOUR industry! 

Specialty Crop Block Grant Now Accepting Proposals

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is now accepting proposals for federal specialty crop grants.  The agency has been notified Illinois will receive more than $520,000 and instructed to begin the proposal selection process.  The deadline to apply will be May 13.  “This year the United States Department of Agriculture is encouraging projects that benefit underserved communities and veterans, improving producer capacity with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act, developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for farmers in drought-stricken regions, increasing opportunities for new and beginning farmers, developing strong local and regional food systems, protecting pollinator habitats and improving pollinator health, to name a few," said Acting Director Raymond Poe.  "These funds may lead to projects that help feed communities, encourage more participation in agriculture, or increase a farmer's profitability and productivity."  Request for proposal packets and additional information about the program can be found online at the department's website at www.agr.state.il.us.  For more information call (217) 524-9129.

Good Agricultural Practices Webinar Series

Tuesdays; April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 2016.Topics to be covered in the GAP's workshop include: Intro: Food Safety - Why Now?; Soil Amendments; Worker Health & Hygiene; Traceability, Recalls & Records; Water Quality; Harvest & Post-Harvest Food Handling; Animal Management, Land Use; Writing a Food Safety Plan; What is, What is in an Audit?  Workshops will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  You may attend the workshops from your home.  You will need a computer with high-speed internet access and a way to listen to the presentation via your computer.  Each registered participant will be sent webinar instructions, handouts, and a GAPs manual prior to the first webinar.  There will be a $25.00 fee per participant, and pre-registration along with pre-payment is required by April 7, 2016. For registration click HERE.

Food Safety Modernization Act

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most sweeping reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years, was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011. Here are some links that can keep you in the know regarding the final ruling of the Produce Rule and that was passed on Nov. 13, 2015. For more in-depth information regarding the Standards for Growing, Harvest, Packing and Holding Produce for Human Consumption click HERE  Implementation Activity — Clarification of compliance dates for certain food establishments for the Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food can be found HERE.  FDA's Strategy for FSMA Training - Who will provide training for the food industry? For information click HERE.

Farmers Market Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate

Effective July 20, 2015, the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act was amended to include Food Product Sampling at Farmers Markets and the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code now includes Subpart N, 750.4300 Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate for Farmers Markets. The Farmers Market Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate training is now available on I-TRAIN. The training course is free and can be accessed here: https://i.train.org Course number 1061218.  Any vendor at a farmers market that would like to sample their product (fruits, vegetables, baked goods, meat, etc.) can do so without a separate permit from the local health department, as long as they have a valid Illinois Farmers Market Food Product Sampling Handler Certificate. This certificate can be used throughout the state and is valid for three (3) years from date of issuance.   Click here for the rest of the article and to view a copy of the certificate.

Putting Small Acres to Work 2015-2016 Workshop Series Announced

The University of Illinois Extension local foods and small farms team is sponsoring a series of workshops on a variety of topics to help people who have a few acres learn ways that they can put them to use. Dates and locations for the 2015-2016 workshop series, “Putting Small Acres to Work,” were recently announced.   The workshops will be offered between  Click here for more information.

Revisions to the Worker Protection Standard

EPA is announcing stronger protections for the nation’s two million agricultural workers and their families working on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. These revisions to the 1992 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard will afford farmworkers similar health protections that are already afforded to workers in other industries.  Click here for more information:  http://www2.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/revisions-worker-protection-standard

ISGA Farmers Market Tent at the 2016 Illinois State Fair

The Illinois Specialty Growers Association will be sponsoring the 16th Farmers’ Market at the Illinois State Fair (August 12-21, 2016).  The farmers’ market will actually be in the same tent as the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the Corner of Center and Main (new location!).  Hours are 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.  We will be selling sweet corn, apple cider slush, peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, popcorn, and fresh garden salads.  Plan to stop by the tent for the freshest food at the state fair!  If you are interested in working at the tent selling produce one of the days, you will receive complimentary parking and gate passes.  Contact Diane at dhandley@ilfb.org or 309-557-2107 if interested.  We need help promoting YOUR industry!

Five Places to Look For Farm Grants

If you’re like many small-scale beginning farmers, you've stared at a certain piece of your property longing to build a greenhouse, pond or a commercial kitchen, but haven't had the funds to make it happen. One solution to this problem is to seek out grants that will give you the access to capital needed to further your farm operation. State and federal governments, along with colleges and other institutions, set aside funding to help farmers afford the things they need. Some of these grants are geared towards specific types of projects while others allow you to invent the project yourself. Some pay the full amount while others share the cost with you. Either way, there’s money out there waiting to help you get your project going—the big
question is where to find it.  Click here to find out more.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Farm Succession Workshop – March 26, 2015

A one-day workshop on the ACA and Farm Succession was held recently in Bloomington. The ACA workshop was taped (3 hours) and is in three parts below along with a copy of the PowerPoint
presentation here.

Part 1         

Part 2         

Part 3