CCFB News» March 2019

Cook County Farm Bureau® submitted the following comments on Illinois Department of Agriculture’s proposed rules for the cultivation, storage and processing of industrial hemp.

Cook County Farm Bureau® sent the following letter to local farmers’ markets: Farmers’ markets have sprung up throughout Cook County, and many people are enjoying the opportunity to purchase and consume fresh, local produce.  However, it’s come to our attention that there is confusion about organic certification and labeling.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue recently announced the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.  The Standard is the result of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law, which was approved in 2016. 

Recipe reprinted with permission from member, Chef Marcia, Flossmoor, found in our 2018 Cookfresh Recipe Collection Brochure, available online at www.cookcfb.org/discover-local/recipes.

A new potential home invader looking for a spot to overwinter in Illinois homes this year is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) which has spread to many counties in Illinois.

Local Food Pantries are Encouraged to Join Farm Bureau’s “Food Pantry Challenge”

Cook County Farm Bureau® will be donating $1,750 to Cook County food pantries.  We’d like to help food pantries provide healthy food for the families in their community.

As March approaches I am excited to leave behind the crazy weather of February and enjoy the traditions of March including leprechauns, the first day of spring, National Ag Day, daylight savings time (March 10th) and March Madness. 

The seating of the 101st General Assembly combined with the turnover on the Cook County Board, Cook County Farm Bureau® has 27 new legislators to share the importance of Cook County agriculture and to build relationships with.  Many of the new legislators represent highly urban areas and have a limited knowledge of agriculture.  Our role as advocates calls on us to communicate with legislators about agriculture and Farm Bureau’s priority issues.

You could call me a modern, mainstream mom at times: I use grocery pickup services. The touch of a smartphone app locates my 13-year-old’s missing cell phone. And home-delivery subscriptions supply our household’s toilet paper and laundry detergent.

Cook County Farm Bureau will reach this milestone in about a year, March of 2020. Young or old, 100 years of age is a nice round milestone number.  The dinosaurs and the Incas would probably snort, but we kinda think that 100 years is a big deal!