July 2017

Vote with your dollars!

When you buy fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat and other products from local and organic producers your dollars are going to support a healthier environment. CAFOs use huge amounts of antibiotics and most often GMO grown corn and soy that requires specific pesticides, herbicides, and/or fungicides to grow. People also need to think about the cruelty of raising animals like pigs that by nature love to dig and roll on the ground. Most CAFO animals are kept in highly crowded conditions inside buildings and are confined their entire lives.  Take an important step for your own health and health of this beautiful planet. Eat less meat and buy meat that is organic or ideally not from CAFOs.

There are many options through the summer and fall to get wonderful local produce, meat and eggs. Vote with your dollars and support farmers markets and local food production. Here is a short list of local farmers markets:

Peoria Riverfront Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, May 20 to September 30
Downtown riverfront between Liberty and Hamilton

Peoria Farmers Market
Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 1 to October 31
Metro Center, North University and Glen in Peoria

Junction City Farmers Market
Wednesdays, 3-6:30 p.m., June 7 to September 27
Junction City, 5901 N. Prospect Road in Peoria

East Peoria Farmers Market
Fridays, 3-6 p.m., June 2 to September 22
The Levee District pedestrian promenade near Gordman’s

Pekin Main Street Farmers Market and Artists
Thursdays, 4-6 p.m., mid-June to early September
Courthouse Square on Capitol Street in Pekin

Metamora Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, June through September
Town Square in Metamora

Canton Main Street Farmers Market
Saturdays, 7:30-11:30 a.m., May 28 to September 30
Jones Park, downtown Canton

Many other communities have farmers markets. Check with your local library or City Hall to find out when and where.