ANNUAL EXPO SHOWCASES PRODUCTS GROWN AND MADE IN ILLINOIS

SPRINGFIELD, IL - From pizza and hot sauce to skin care and bird seed, several new exhibitors will be among the more than 50 Illinois food companies, wineries, and agricultural associations taking part in the 21st annual Illinois Products Expo this weekend, March 2 and 3, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

"The Illinois Products Expo has grown and expanded each year to become a premier showcase of what Illinois companies have to offer," said John M. Sullivan, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. "Illinois ag is more than rows of corn and soybeans in the fields - it's also about the thousands of food processing companies that call Illinois home. And this Expo is the perfect opportunity to learn about those operations and support small agribusinesses across our state."

Illinois ranks first in the nation for food processing sales ($186 billion/year), and it is one of our state's top manufacturing activities. The 2,372 food processing companies in Illinois support more than 71,000 jobs.

The food offerings, which can be sampled for free as well as purchased at the Illinois Products Expo, include fresh meat products, pizza, sauces, honey, cakes, cheeses, gourmet seasonings, and so much more - all produced, packaged, or processed in Illinois. There will also be non-food items, such as soy candles and agricultural-based soaps and lotions on display and available for purchase. You can find a complete list of participating vendors on the Illinois Products Expo website, https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Assistance/TradeShows/IllinoisProductsExpo/Pages/default.aspx

The Illinois Products Expo will be open on Saturday, March 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.  Admission is $5 per person; children 10 and younger will be admitted free of charge.  While food sampling will be free, the beverage tastings are offered at a small cost - $5 gets you five tastings and your own wine glass to take home.

Here are a few of the participating vendors scheduled to attend the 2019 Illinois Products Expo:

Bloomington Meats/IL Pork  
Just the Basics (Craft Beer)  
Toohill Seed & Beef Services  
ReMARKable Carmels   
Safeco Donuts    
Ropp Jersey Cheese   
Family Kettle Corn   
The Cousin's Dog Biscuit Co  
Serious Lip Balm   
Four Score and 7 Ribs Ago  
Gindo's Spice of Life   
Country Lights Soy Candles  
Reinneck Ranch     
Golden Prairie Popcorn    
Creekstone Kettle Works   
Turbo Fire Pizza   
Nuthatch Hill BBQ   
Miles T-Shirts    
Prairie Melody Premium Birdseed  
Turasky Meats    
Sasses Apiary    
Riegler Quality Meats
Zillions Chili
Ludwig Farmstead Creamery
Uncle Joe's Sauces
Shelley's Salsa
Galena Garlic Co.
Jones Boys Market
Engrained Brewing Company
Kelley's Gourmet
Joe Joe's Salad Dressings
Cocoa Blue Chocolates
Hapburgers Seasonings
Sweet Beginnings/Bee Love
GS Enterprises
Meatsmack
Butch's Pizza
Creekstone Kettle Works
Mario's Pizza
Hilltop Bee Emporium
Jaymo's All Purpose Sauces
Homestead Bakery
SS Backwards Longhorn

The Illinois Products Expo is organized by the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing, Promotion and Grants, which works to assist small to medium size Illinois agri-businesses to enter the marketplace through export assistance, branding/marketing campaigns, and buyer introductions.

If an Illinois food company would like to learn more about participating in the Illinois Products Expo or any of the other programs offered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, they can contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing, Promotion and Grants at (217) 557-5897.