Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has introduced its inaugural Illinois Product Holiday Box, a collection of nine products sourced from local businesses across the state. This initiative aims to support local enterprises and provide a unique gift option for the holiday season.

"The Illinois Product Holiday Box is a wonderful way to share a taste of Illinois this season," stated IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. He emphasized the ease with which consumers can shop locally and support state businesses through this offering.

Included in each box are various items such as B's Gourmet Nuts' Decadent Cashews, Creekstone Kettle Works' Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn, and Fire Department Coffee's Original Medium Roast Ground Coffee. Other products featured are Bee-utiful Honey & Candles' Christmas Tree Beeswax Candle, Fired Up Jellies and Jams' Strawberry Habanero Jelly, Garlic Breath Farms' Garlic Goddess Hot Sauce, Turasky Meats' BBQ Snack Sticks, Riley's Seasoning All-Purpose Seasoning (Salt-Free), and Umland's Crunchy Cheese Cheddar Crunchy Cheese.

Additionally, each purchase comes with two tickets to the Illinois Product Expo scheduled for March 1-2, 2025, in Springfield. The boxes are available for $50 when picked up at the IDOA building in Springfield or $70 if shipped within the United States. Shipping begins in early December with orders dispatched the following business day after receipt. To ensure delivery by December 25th, orders must be placed by December 13th.

Jackie Sambursky, IDOA Bureau Chief of Marketing, Promotion and Grants remarked on the convenience of gifting these boxes: "Whether you pick up a box to take to a holiday party across town or ship a box out of state to surprise your favorite foodie, the Illinois Product Holiday Box takes the guess work out of gift giving." She also noted that beyond containing high-quality local products, each box is designed to make an impression.

All items in the holiday box bear either a certified Illinois Product logo or other designations such as Illinois Grown or Homegrown by Heroes. These labels indicate that products are produced or processed within Illinois or contain ingredients grown there.

For further details or inquiries about purchasing an Illinois Product Holiday Box, interested parties can contact agr.illinoisproduct@illinois.gov.