Aspiring Illinois farmers, new growers with less than five years’ experience, commodity farmers interested in diversifying to include fruit or vegetable production, and high school and community college agriculture teachers are invited to apply now for the next session of a free training program offered through the University of Illinois crop sciences department.

“Preparing a New Generation of Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Farmers” opened the application process for its third session on July 1. The application period will be open through October 24, 2014, or until capacity is reached. There is no fee for participants who complete the program.  Participants can apply for the program here.

More information can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/lxsnzlr

Here is a link to a story that was recently published: http://www.illinoisfarmertoday.com/news/crop/diversity-provides-unique-opportunity/article_ef26ffca-e117-11e3-bff1-001a4bcf887a.html

Their program was also featured in the New York Times:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/dining/the-seeds-of-a-new-generation.html

And here is the link to the Inside Illinois story: http://news.illinois.edu/ii/13/0620/newfarmers.html

Other news regarding the program:

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/new-initiative-plans-seed-next-generation-ill-fruit-and-veggie-farmers

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/22808404-418/extension-volunteers-harvest-food-for-local-pantries.html

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/news/news29679.html

http://brownfieldagnews.com/2013/07/11/illinois-program-offers-assistance-to-new-illinois-produce-farmers/

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/12/new-farmers-femaleminority.html