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:  Diane Handley, DHandley@ilfb.org or 309-557-3662.
                     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 2014 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. 

  
      

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

The Illinois Specialty Growers, Illinois Farm Bureau, and Illinois Milk Producers will be hosting a one-day workshop on the ACA and Farm Succession.  There is no fee to attend but registration is required no later than March 20, 2015.  The meeting will be held at the Illinois Farm Bureau building in Bloomington.

Download Affordable Care Act Workshop Flyer-revised 

Click here to register:  https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=b6ZJwMko-ZJA4j2o7Fq-Hw

MEET THE BUYER/MEET THE FARMER EVENT (St. Louis)

March 3, 2015, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.  Grocery retailers, chefs, foodservice distributors, schools, caterers and more will be in attendance. Farmers are invited to attend the Meet the Farmers, Meet the Buyers event on March 3, 2015. This one-day event will take place on the St. Louis University campus in the Il Monastero Banquet Center, 3050 Olive Blvd, St. Louis Missouri from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM (Doors open at 9:30 AM).

This event is an opportunity for farmers to meet with buyers one-on-one and learn what it takes to do business with the grocery and foodservice industries. Buyers interested in sourcing local and regional food will be available to meet with fruit and vegetable farmers as well as farmers providing meats, cheese, dairy products, eggs, artisan products, value-added products, and more.

Event registration fee is $15 per participant and includes all event materials, lunch, and breaks. A buffet lunch will feature several local and regional foods. Due to limited seating, registration must be completed by February 25, 2015. Registration is first come, first served.  http://www.ilfb.org/ifb-news-and-events/conferences-events/meet-the-farmers,-meet-the-buyers.aspx

2015 Small Farm Winter Webinar Series

The Small Farm Webinar Series is a weekly educational series for the small farm community and
provides practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois.  This series of online events is aimed at providing small farm producers with a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve predictability and sustainability.  Webinars air live each Thursday at 1:00 – 2:30 pm and include a question and answer session. If you cannot attend, a link to the recorded webinars will be available to view at your convenience for all those who register. The dates and topics are: 

2015
Jan. 15                 No-till Culture for Peppers & Tomatoes
Jan. 22                 Growing Hops for Market
Jan. 29                 Potato Production
Feb.  5                  Sweet Corn Production
Feb. 12                 Perennial Crops for Small Farms
Feb. 19                 Understanding Insecticides
Feb. 26                 Blueberry Production
Mar.  5                  Hydroponics
Mar. 12                 Effective Farmers Market Displays
Mar. 19                 Veggie Compass Record-Keeping Software
Mar. 26                 Variety Selection & Rootstocks for Establishing Apple Orchards 

TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT(S), LOG ON TO: http://go.illinois.edu/2015winterwebinars Or contact Miki White: Miki White,University of Illinois Extension, Program Coordinator, Small Farms and Local Food Systems, 180 S. Soangetaha Rd., Suite 108, Galesburg, Illinois  61401, Phone:  309-342-5108, Email:  miki7047@illinois.edu.

Food Safety Modernization Act Webinar

A webinar organized by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition,
Illinois Stewardship Alliance, U of I Extension and the Ohio Ecological Food
and Farm Association to review the re-proposed Food safety Modernization Act
Produce and Preventative Controls Rules and the potential impacts on local food
systems is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCkGtcUGVn4

Illinois NRCS Announces EQIP Application Deadlines

Illinois State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Ivan Dozier announced that November 21, 2014 and January 16, 2015 will be the two Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) application deadlines.  Click here for more information

Putting Small Acres to Good Use: 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.  “Putting Small Acres to Work” workshops will be offered between Nov. 1, 2014 and March 7, 2015 at locations throughout Illinois.    Click here for more information.

ISGA Farmers Market Tent at the Illinois State Fair

The Illinois Specialty Growers Association will be sponsoring the 15th Farmers’ Market at the Illinois State Fair (August 14-23, 2015).  The farmers’ market will actually be in the same tent as the Illinois Department of Agriculture in the Heartland area of the fairgrounds.  Hours are 10:00 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!

USDA Farm Service Agency Announces Tree Assistance Program Sign-up

Orchardists and nursery tree growers who experienced losses from natural disasters that occurred on or after Oct. 1, 2011, can sign up for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). TAP was authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 as a permanent disaster program. TAP provides financial assistance to qualifying orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.  To qualify for TAP, fruit growers must suffer a qualifying tree, bush or vine loss in excess of 15 percent mortality from an eligible natural disaster. The eligible trees, bushes or vines must have been owned when the natural disaster occurred; however, eligible growers are not required to own the land on which the eligible trees, bushes and vines were planted.  Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.  If the TAP application is approved, the eligible trees, bushes and vines must be replaced within 12 months from the date the application is approved. The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes or vines for which a producer can receive TAP payments cannot exceed 500 acres annually. If physical evidence of the lost trees, bushes, or vines no longer exists, the owner must provide documentation to determine the eligible trees, bushes, or vines existed and were lost on each stand because of the approved disaster condition. Examples of documentation can include: • Receipts for the original purchase of the eligible trees, bushes, or vines where TAP is requested, • Documentation of labor and equipment used to plant or remove the eligible trees, bushes, or vines that were lost, • Chemical, fertilizer, or other related receipts to substantiate the existence of the eligible trees, bushes, or vines. • RMA appraisal worksheet may be used by COC to substantiate applicant’s certification of trees lost. For more information about TAP, click here.

Increase Your Farmers Market Sales In A SNAP

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — could be an untapped marketing opportunity for your produce. SNAP, or as it was formerly known, the food stamp program, helps get more fresh produce into the diets of consumers who may not have access to the fruits and vegetables their families need. By participating in the program, growers who sell at farmers markets, or even through their own retail markets, not only get access to this large segment of consumers, but also may be able to take advantage of incentive programs that can double your sales to SNAP recipients. Download SNAP article

Food Safety Training Webinar

A training webinar for farmers market managers to learn about the changes to the Illinois Department of Public Health Technical Information Bulletin #30 - Sanitation Guidelines for Farmers Markets was held on Monday, June 17, 2013.  Patricia Welch, Food Program Manager, Illinois Department of Public Health provided an update of these changes.  The TIB #30 is available below, and you can listen to this 37-minute webinar at the following link:  http://media.itcs.illinois.edu/telenet/20130617/84230.html

Download Sanitation Guildlines for Farmers Markets: Technical Information Bulletin #30