The Weblog
The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:
Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!
Meet Our Growers/Producers!
Happy Monday Morning!!
I have asked all of our vendors to send me a bio about them, their products, their farms, their businesses…I thought it would be nice, now that we are rolling into our 10 year anniversary in May, to introduce all of them!! Some have been with the market since it’s inception. Some are newer. But, even the original market vendors have new stories to tell, with new paths that have been followed in these 10 years.
Today, I bring you Champaign Berry Farm!!
Champaign Berry Farm, located near Mutual on State Route 29, is a family-owned farm which has grown from 5 acres in 1995 to the current 23 acres of berries and 3 acres of peaches (as a reference, an acre is about the same size as a football field). The farm originated as a Future Farmers of America (FFA) project for the oldest son, Matt, and then to younger son, Kent. Proceeds from the farm helped pay for tuition for both sons at The Ohio State University. Demand for fresh berries has been strong and it became apparent that more acreage was needed. As the boys matured and moved away from the farm, married and started families, Mike and Cathy began to manage the farm full time. Both are now retired from off farm jobs and devote most of their time to the Berry Farm. Cathy views the farm as a “happy place” to be – outside, growing beautiful berries, providing healthy produce for consumers and being the first employer for many teens. Mike enjoyed picking wild black raspberries as a kid and loves them in pies, cobblers and fresh on ice cream and cereal. He wanted a nearby, easy source for berries so he started the farm along with help from Matt and Kent.
The business is primarily Pick Your Own during late June through mid-July and then again in late August until there is a hard freeze. Peaches are available already picked in July and August. The summer PYO produce includes black raspberries, red raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and currants. Our fall crops include red raspberries, golden raspberries and black raspberries. We also feature a variety of jams including black raspberry, red raspberry, red raspberry jalapeno and black raspberry sauce. If we have a peach crop we will also have peach habanero jam. Since the PYO demand has been extremely strong we only feature fresh raspberries and peaches in season on the Champaign Locally Grown Market. Our jams and sauce are available year-round.