Illinois Products Expo To Feature Local Foods And Wines

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Fifty-four Illinois food companies will give away samples of their products this weekend at the 14th annual Illinois Products Expo.  The aptly-titled “Food and Cooking Extravaganza,” which also features Illinois-made wines and agriculture-based products like soy candles, will be held March 3-4 in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  In all, 77 companies are scheduled to participate.

“The Illinois Products Expo allows food companies to market their products directly to consumers,” Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Bob Flider said.  “Events like this are important because Illinois is one of the largest food processing states in the country.  They not only help create demand for our crops, but also support jobs in an economically-important industry.”

Many of the Expo’s food offerings can be purchased to take home and will include fresh meat products, gourmet seasonings and sauces, homemade jams and jellies and specialty dressings.  Beverages also will be available.  Expo visitors will have wines from 19 vintners and beer from two breweries to choose from, as well as coffee and soda.  However, while the food samples are free, there is a charge for the drinks.

“The floor plan has been reconfigured to make better use of the available space,” Expo organizer Larry Aldag said.  “The change will shorten lines and improve everyone’s enjoyment of the show.” 

Expo hours are Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission is $5.  Children 10 and younger will be admitted free of charge.

Drawings will be held for door prizes, including Illinois products gift baskets and a Weber Genesis E-310 LP gas grill (retail value $849).

A list of the participating food companies, wineries and agribusinesses follows: 

• Ahruns Famous, Crystal Lake
• Aleece’s Pita Chips, East Peoria
• American Egg Board, Springfield
• Aunt Em’s Gourmet Popcorn, Deer Creek
• Bloodshot Bloody Mary Mix, Springfield
• Bloomington Meats, Bloomington
• Butch’s Pizza, Morton
• C & C Fudge, Lincoln
• Central Illinois Event Catering, Elkhart
• Chicago Food Mfg., Chicago Heights
• Country Lights Soy Candles, Leland
• Crowridge Farm Ice Cream, Elliott
• Darn Hot Peppers, Cobden
• Davis Bros. Pizza, East Peoria
• Eagle Bridges Soy Candles, Jacksonville
• E. Formella & Sons, Countryside
• Galena Garlic Company, Geneva
• Goose Island Brewing Co., Chicago/
• (Skeff Distributing, Decatur)
• Gramp’s Gourmet Foods, Scales Mound
• Gringo Foods, O’Fallon
• Heavenly Delight Cakes, Windsor
• Illinois Association FFA, Springfield
• Ill. Grape Growers & Vintners Assn., Springfield

• Ill. Pork Producers Assn., Springfield
• Ill. Specialty Growers Assn., Bloomington
• Ill. State Beekeepers’ Assn., Riverton
• In Good Taste, Taylorville
• JAVA & Company, Henry
• Jimmy B’s Super Salsa, Springfield
• Jones Boys Market, Ashland
• Julie’s Corner Store, Lacon
• La Mexicana, Chicago
• Lime Rock Brown Swiss Cheese, Davis
• Lonzerotti’s Italian Products, Springfield
• Ludwig Farmstead Creamery, Fithian
• Mackinaw Valley Apiaries, Mackinaw
• M & G Foods (Grandpa G’s), Hamilton
• Meatsmack, Chatham
• Midwest Grocers Supply, Quincy
• Oakland Noodle Company, Oakland
• Onofrio’s Classic Sauces, Springfield
• Pasta Alley, Decatur
• Pease’s Candy, Springfield
• Perfect Pasta, Addison
• ReMARKable Caramels, Danville
• Rolling Meadows Brewery, Cantrall
• Ropp Jersey Cheese, Normal
• Sasse’s Apiary, Chestnut
• Smo Diddly’s Pickled Asparagus, Lynn Center
• Spice of Life, Decatur
• SS Backwards Longhorn Meats, Medora
• Steidinger Foods, Fairbury
• Tallgrass Prairie Farms, Petersburg
• The Homestead Bakery, Arthur
• Toohill Seed & Beef Service, Heyworth
• Turasky Meats, Springfield
• Two Fat Guys Gourmet Sauces, McHenry
• Uncle Joe’s Sauces, Ina
• Yings Kitchen, Gurnee
• Zillion’s Chili, Springfield