Food

On this edition of WSIU InFocus, we hear from experts about the invasive Asian Carp, which are rapidly spreading in Illinois' streams and rivers, causing damage to the native fish populations.

The Illinois Department of Natural resources is hoping to stop the growth of invasive Asian Carp, by getting people to eat it.  This Saturday at Giant City State Park local Chefs will prepare dishes, using the Asian Carp.  Jennifer Randolph Bollinger, the park's Natural Resources Coordinator,  says you can also learn about this invader.

On this edition of InFocus, we hear  about a new way to help southern Illinoisans buy locally grown food.

A grass roots group is expanding to fight food insecurity.  Chuck Paprocki is the Coordinator of the Carbondale Spring's Food Autonomy Initiative.  

Even the way a farmers market operates has changed since the pandemic started as social-distancing practices become more critical for maintaining public health.

In Carbondale, Illinois the farmers market switched to a drive-thru allowing some local producers to sell their goods in a physically-distant manner with masks and gloves. 

Two local non–profits are teaming up to get food to  at–risk children in southern Illinois.  Between now and January 31st Marion's Carnegie Library is offering their Food for Fines program.  Sarah Wingate,  the Coordinator of Library Services,  says the donations will be given to Gum Drops in Carterville for distribution.  Wingate says the program began several years ago and has grown.  Each month, Wingate says Gumdrops delivers over 15 thousand backpacks of easy to prepare food to at–risk children. 

The Illinois Humanities Council will host a special program this weekend in Cobden, highlighting the future of agriculture in rural areas like southern Illinois. WSIU’s Jennifer Fuller has this preview of “Seeding Change”.

In southern Illinois most of the landscape is perfect for farming.

In the summer, a lot of the roads look like hallways with corn for walls.

But even surrounded by all of this fresh healthy food, some towns that are surrounded by these fields don’t have access to those fresh foods.

The 2015 Sustainable Living Expo takes place this Saturday October 24th, 2015 at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center from 9:00AM  to 4:00PM.  For more information visit the Sustainable Living website at:http://slexpo.org/

Food Works is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable, local food systems.  On Wednesday September 2nd, the Executive Director of Food Works, Kathleen Logan Smith announced the "Eat Local Challenge", an initiative involving the Neighborhood Coop Grocery in Carbondale, several farmer's markets, and participating restaurants.  The "Eat Local Challenge" runs from September 5th through September 19th and encourages southern Illinoisans to consume food grown and raised locally.