Illinois Products Expo To Feature Homemade Foods And Wines

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Tasty, Illinois-made food products from more than 60 companies are on the menu for the 2010 Illinois Products Expo.  And, best of all, samples are free!

The 12th annual "Food and Cooking Extravaganza," which also features products from state wineries and agribusinesses, will be held March 6-7 in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  In all, about 80 companies, including 15 new companies, are scheduled to participate.

"The Illinois Products Expo introduces consumers to the great food that is made in our state," Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said.  "Ultimately, the department's goal is to build demand for these Illinois-made products and get grocery stores to stock them on their shelves."

Seven Springfield area grocers continue to do just that.  Country Market, County Market, Humphrey's, Schnucks, Shop-N-Save, Meijer and Walmart all have added products featured at the Expo to their stores.

The Expo's food offerings will include fresh meat products, gourmet seasonings and sauces, homemade jams and jellies and specialty dressings.  Beverages also will be available.  Expo visitors can quench their thirst with coffee, soda or a sip of Illinois wine from one of 18 vintners.  Wine will be sold by the sample, glass and bottle.

Expo hours are:  Saturday, March 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission is $4.  Children 10 and younger will be admitted free of charge.

Drawings will be held for door prizes, including baskets of Illinois food products and a $949 Weber Genesis S-310 gas grill.
 
A list of the participating food companies, wineries and agribusinesses follows:

Afterthought Farm, Owaneco*
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
Booker's Tavern Chilli, Glenarm
Butch's Pizza, Morton
C & C Fudge, Lincoln
Capitol District Dietetic Association, Springfield
Central Illinois Event Catering, Elkhart*
Chef Dick's Barbecue Sauce, Girard
Country Bob, Centralia
Country Lights Soy Candles, Leland
County Market, Springfield
Darn Hot Peppers, Cobden*
Davis Bros. Pizza, East Peoria*
Doodles Cookies, Aurora*
Eagle Bridges Soy Candles, Jacksonville
Galena Garlic Co., Galena*
Gramp's Gourmet Foods, Scales Mound
Green Goose Farms, Charleston
Gringo Foods, O'Fallon
Healthwise Gourmet Coffees, Deer Park
Illinois Association FFA, Springfield
Illinois Beef Association, Springfield
Illinois Farm Bureau, Bloomington
Illinois Food Retailers Association, Lombard
Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Assoc., Springfield
 Participating Illinois wineries:
 Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass
August Hill Winery, Utica 
Baxter's Winery, Nauvoo
 Berryville Vineyards, Berryville
 Collver Family Winery, Barry
 Fox Creek Vineyards, Olney
 Hill Prairie Winery, Oakford
 Hogg Hollow Winery, Golconda
 Hopewell Winery, Rockport
 Lasata Wines, Lawrenceville
 Mackinaw Valley Vineyards, Mackinaw
 Mary Michelle Winery, Carrollton
 Pheasant Hollow Winery, Whittington
 Prairie State Winery, Genoa
 Shawnee Winery, Vienna
Spirit Knob Winery, Ursa 
Vahling Vineyards, Stewardson
 Willett's Winery, Manito

Illinois Pork Producers Association, Springfield
Illinois Soybean Association, Bloomington
Illinois Specialty Growers Association, Bloomington
JAVA & Company, Henry*
J. D. Mullen Company, Palestine
JK Marleys, Machesney Park
Julie's Corner Store, Lacon
Kehe Foods, Romeoville
Kitchen Cooked, Inc., Farmington
La Mexicana, Chicago*
Louie's Seasoning Co., Johnston City
M & G Foods, Hamilton
Mackinaw Valley Apiaries, Mackinaw
Meatsmack, Springfield*
Midwest Grocers Supply, Quincy
Midwest Meats, Pana
M. J. Kellner Foodservice, Springfield
Niemann Foods, Quincy
Oakland Noodle Company, Oakland
Onofrio's Classic Sauces, Springfield
Pasta Alley, Decatur
Pease's Candy, Springfield
Pike Angus, Griggsville*
Ropp Jersey Cheese, Normal
Sasse's Apiary, Chestnut
Schnucks Markets, Springfield
Shop-N-Save, Springfield
Skeff Distributors/Goose Island Brewing, Decatur
Smokin' Joe Products, Chicago*
Soileau's Seasonings, Middletown
Sonoma Farm, Chicago
Spice Daddy, Glenview*
Spice of Life, Decatur
SS Backwards Longhorn Meats, Medora
Steidinger Foods, Fairbury
The Homestead Bakery, Arthur
Toffee Traditions, Lake Forest*
Toohill Seed & Beef Service, Heyworth
Uncle Joe's Sauces, Ina
Voss Pecans, Carlyle
Weber Stephen Products Co., Palatine
Ying's Kitchen, Gurnee
Zillion's Chili Bowl Chili, Springfield* 

*new participant

To learn more about the products to taste at the Expo, visit the Illinois Department of Agriculture's website at www.agr.state.il.us and click on "Illinois Products Expo."