CHICAGO — This summer Illinois consumers can use their smartphones to see what is currently in season wherever they happen to be. On it they can also find the growers that produce those products as well as the nearest farmers markets where they can shop for fresh locally grown products. The “What’s in Season” phone app https://whatsinseasonapp.com/ was made possible through the Illinois Specialty Growers Block Grant Program and is a collaboration between Illinois Food MarketMaker and the Illinois Farmers Market Association.
“Our hope is to get people in the habit of eating seasonal products when they are at peak freshness and most widely available. “says Darlene Knipe, National Leader for the Food MarketMaker program and a member of the What’s in Season development team. “By also connecting them to the producers and the local farmers markets, we can make it as easy as possible for them find locally grown fruits and vegetables.”
The app currently uses information on growers and farmers markets that are listed with Illinois Food MarketMaker, http://il.foodmarketmaker.com/, Illinois Farmers Market Association (http://www.ilfma.org/ and Illinois Prairie Bounty Directory http://www.specialtygrowers.org/. Producers or markets who would like to be included in the app can create profiles through any of the affiliated directories or through the app itself. If you already have a profile, please log in and make sure your information is up to date.
The What’s in Season App is part of Connect Fresh Illinois a cooperative effort to promote locally grown products and local farmers’ markets throughout Illinois. If you would like to learn more about Connect Fresh Illinois and its partners visit http://www.ilfma.org/illinois-markets/connectfresh-illinois
For More Information Contact: Darlene Knipe dknipe@foodmarketmaker.com cell 309 – 428 – 0128.
— Connect Fresh Illinois
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