Illinois Products Expo Offers Something for Everyone

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: March 4, 2015 Kristi Jones (217) 558-1546 Rebecca Clark (217) 785-5485 ILLINOIS PRODUCTS EXPO OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Doors open Saturday, March 7th

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More than 70 Illinois food companies, wineries, and agriculture associations that will take part this weekend in the 17th annual Illinois Products Expo. From ice cream and cheese for kids, to beer and wine for adults, attendees will be able to sample all of what Illinois has to offer at the Expo.

“This weekend’s Illinois Products Expo will showcase the state’s number one industry, agriculture,” said Acting Director Philip Nelson. “The expo is a one stop shop for consumers looking to support the state of Illinois and its hard working producers.”

Illinois ranks second among all states in food processing sales ($102 billion), and food processing is the state’s number one manufacturing activity. Currently, the state’s 2,200 food processing companies employ more than 150,000 workers.

The Expo’s food offerings, which can be sampled for free as well as purchased, will include fresh meat products, gourmet seasonings and sauces, and homemade jams and jellies. There will also be non-food items, such as soy candles and agriculture-based soaps and lotions, on display and available for purchase.

This year visitors will get the opportunity to learn from a local chef. John Kidd from Lincoln Land Community College, Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program, will give cooking demonstrations for attendees on Saturday from 1-3pm.

Another favorite among visitors is the wine and beer companies that call Illinois home. This year there will be 20 wineries in attendance, including four businesses brand new to the Expo. “People are used to drinking California and French wines, but I think there’s a real curiosity about Illinois wines and the local wine experience,” said Jennifer Montgomery of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association. There are currently 108 wineries operating in Illinois, and 450 growers statewide. The economic impact of the industry continues to grow, with $692 million recorded in 2012. -more- EXPO/2222 The Illinois Products Expo will be open on Saturday, March 7th from 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, March 8th from 10:00am-3:00pm in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Admission is $5. 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. Five dollars will get you five tastings and your own wine glass to take home.

List of participating vendors scheduled to attend the 2015 Illinois Products Expo:

Ahruns Famous American Egg Board Bloodshot Bloody Mary Mix Butch's Pizza Chocolate Enrapture Coming Home Candles Consolidated Brands Country Lights Soy Candles Crowridge Farm Ice Cream Eagle Bridges Soy Candles Engrained Brewing Company Flat Branch Farm Four Score and 7 Ribs Ago Freedom Halal Farm Galena Garlic Company Golden Prairie Popcorn Gramps Gourmet Foods, Inc Grand River Spirits Happy Baked Goods Hickory Grove Products Homestead Bakery IL Association FFA IL Pork Producers/Bloomington Meats IL Specialty Growers Assn Irish Indulgences J.D. Mullen Co Java & Co. Jerk Bros, Inc Jimmy B's Super Salsa Jones Boys Market Kelly's Gourmet La Mexicana Inc. Linda's Salsa Ludwig Farmstead Creamery M & G Foods Meatsmack Oakland Noodle Co -more- EXPO/3333 Onofrio’s Classic Sauces Papa’s Midwest Kettle Corn Pasta Alley Perfect Pasta Reinneck Ranch, Inc ReMARKable Caramels Rolling Meadows Brewery Ropp Jersey Cheese Sasse's Apiary Scrumptious Pantry SenTEAmental Moods Smo Diddley's Inc Spice of Life SS Backwards Longhorn Meats Sweet Betty Jane's The Cousins Dog Biscuit Co Toohill Beef Turasky Meats Two Fat Guys Gourmet Sauces Uncle Joes V Walker Enterprises (Anthony's Southern Sauces) Voss Pecans Wind Ridge Herb Farm Nut Hatch Hill BBQ Dave's Coffe Cake Pilot Knob Comforts Raised Right LLC (Sullivan Pheasant Farm)