By RODNEY HART
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Illinois Department of Agriculture acting Director Robert Flider unveiled the Buy Illinois Challenge and department logo during a news conference Thursday at Prince Agri Products in Quincy.
The Buy Illinois Challenge encourages every Illinois household to dedicate $10 of the weekly grocery budget to the purchase of Illinois products. Flider said if every household in the state participated, it would generate more than $2.4 billion a year for the state economy.
"We are all about success stories and to help Illinois companies thrive and succeed," Flider said. "We are a leader in the country in agriculture, and we want to increase our exports and economic development."
Various local government and business leaders attended the news conference. Many lauded Prince Agri Products, which opened a 165,000-square-foot manufacturing, warehousing and laboratory facility at 221 Prince Ave. three years ago and has experienced steady growth at the south-end location.
Prince Agri Products President Dean Warras called Buy Illinois a "cool initiative" and said that despite challenges in the state, Illinois is a national leader in agriculture.
"We are always in the top two or three in the country in agriculture," Warras said. "I'm super-proud Illinois is a leader in agriculture."
Quincy City Clerk Jenny Hayden said she and Mayor John Spring support the initiative and have signed up online at www.buyillinoischallenge.com. After the news conference, others were encouraged to sign up, including a group of Future Farmers of America representatives from Pittsfield.
Niemann Foods spokesman Gerry Kettler says company grocery stores try to have Illinois-grown and locally made products "at every opportunity." While many think of the fresh produce from local and state gardens, there are often more Illinois-made products on the shelves than a person might think.
"You have Prairie Farms for milk and dairy products, and you have things like the Illinois wineries," Kettler said.
Harrison Hy-Vee Manager Darrell Wilson brought a case of water and handed out bottles after the news conference. The Hy-Vee brand water is from Hummel Springs in Liberty and is bottled in Quincy.
Wilson pointed out that Hy-Vee carries other products from Illinois, such as the Oak Hill birdseed from Hull. Local grocery stores also display the newly designed Illinois Products logo.
-- rhart@whig.com/221-3370
Robert Flider, acting director of Illinois Department of Agriculture, announces new program, Buy Illinois Challenge to encourage every Illinois household to spend $10 of the weekly grocery budget on Illinois products. (H-W Photo/Michael Kipley)
