FARMERS MARKETS l The show and pop-up market presented by Ravinia summer music festival and Ravinia Farmers Market Aug. 20 can be the dream concert picnic...

FOOD EDUCATION l I am always happy to promote events by the non-profit Liberty Prairie. Learn about two events with chefs who are friends of Local Food Forum...

CRAFT SPIRITS l Chicago's National Museum of Mexican Art hosts a fundraiser focused on agave spirits. This Local Food Forum interview explains how this came about...

FOOD NON-PROFITS l Farmers Rising, the impactful farmer education non-profit in north-central Illinois, invites you to its 3rd annual music, food and fun fest...

FARM EVENTS l Local Food Forum loves farms, art and creativity. The August Landing Dance Festival at east-central Illinois' Zumwalt Acres farm combines all three ...

MEAT l how do free grilled hot dogs and hamburgers sound to you? The occasion is "Beef Up the Block," which takes place in Galewood on Chicago's Far West Side...

FOOD NON-PROFITS l Illinois Stewardship Alliance — the state's leading policy advocate for local food and farms — has set the date for its annual Chicago-area event

CHEF PHILANTHROPY l Chicago Chefs Cook (CCC) outdid itself with its March 20 "I Cook For" culinary fundraiser held at Chicago's Four Seasons

TOMATOES l Chicago Tomato Man has opened his e-commerce site for his astounding variety of tomato starters... and he's planning a big event

LOCAL FOOD ECOSYSTEMS l The Illinois Food System Roadmap initiative launched last week in Rockford with its 1st of 8 listening sessions..