Flavor this Fresh Doesn’t Travel Far
The Forgottonia Times™ Report
Cedar Ridge Farm Market's pigs from summer 2024. Photo taken from Cedar Ridge Facebook page.
If you've ever bit into a sun-warmed tomato picked straight off the vine, you know that food just tastes better when it's fresh. And fresher still when it's grown by yourself or someone you know just a few miles down the road. Whether it's heirloom vegetables at the weekend Farmers Market or a scratch-made meal prepared with ingredients from nearby farms, buying local has never tasted so good—or mattered so much.
Choosing locally grown food supports regional farmers, strengthens our rural economy, and cuts down on the environmental impact of long-haul shipping. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar to the local economy than chain competitors. In fact, for every $100 spent at a locally owned business, approximately $68 stays in the community, compared to just $43 at a national chain. In a time when global supply chains are increasingly fragile, food grown close to home offers both better flavor and a stronger community.
Local businesses are leading the way. In Galesburg, Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli champions sustainable sourcing, offering everything from locally grown mushrooms to raw honey and non-GMO meats. In Canton, The Bistro 101 blends fine dining with homegrown herbs and locally sourced produce from West Side Organics and the Canton Farmers Market. Moving to just outside Roseville, the Cedar Ridge Farm Market delivers raw milk, pastured meats, and seasonal produce straight from their Mennonite family farm to your table.
Meal cooked and prepared at The Bistro 101. Photo taken from the Bistro's website.
Their stories—shared in our Small Business Spotlight section—reveal a shared belief: that good food begins with good stewardship. From carefully vetted supplements at Cornucopia to tomatoes that go from garden to plate within hours at Bistro 101 or the clean taste of pasture-raised pork at Cedar Ridge Farm, these small businesses are rooted in health, transparency, and community.
Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli, photo courtesy of Hannah Lyon.
And while these businesses work hard to feed their neighbors, you can grow your own fresh produce, too. Consider planting your own tomato plant in a sunny spot—every little bit counts. Or explore the Giving Gardens in Macomb and Bushnell, where volunteer-tended plots offer free, fresh produce to the public. Can't garden yourself? Make it a habit to visit one of the many Farmer's Markets nearby. You'll find a map and schedule in the Homestead section to guide your local food journey.
When you choose to buy local, you're not just putting dinner on the table; you're keeping dollars circulating in your community, cutting down on unnecessary packaging and transport, and forming connections—with farmers, shop owners, and even the land itself. The next time you're shopping for dinner, think about where your food comes from. You might just find the answer right down the road.
Cedar Ridge Farm Market cows. Photo taken from Cedar Ridge Facebook page.
Cedar Ridge Farm Market
If you want to see where the local food movement begins, start with a family farm like Cedar Ridge Farm Market. This small Mennonite-run operation is rooted in a desire to provide wholesome, natural food—not just for themselves but for their entire community. What began as a personal mission to address family health needs has grown into a thriving business offering raw milk, pastured pork and poultry, free-range eggs, and seasonal produce.
For Jacob Yoder and his family, good food means animals raised outdoors with space to roam, crops grown without synthetic chemicals, and milk that’s fresh, unpasteurized, and full of nutrients. “The flavor is exceptional,” he explains, noting the clean taste and health benefits of food that’s raised the way nature intended. And the difference isn’t just in taste—it’s in values. Customers know exactly where their food is coming from, and they’re supporting a farm that gives animals dignity and the land care.
Cedar Ridge Farm Market fresh, non-GMO meat. Photo courtesy of Emma Rauschert
Still, farming locally comes with its challenges. One of the biggest is volume—producing enough to make it sustainable while staying true to their small-scale, hands-on approach. However, the response over the past two years has been overwhelmingly positive, and with a new location just south of Roseville (657 40th Ave. Roseville), the Yoders are ready to welcome even more customers. Just be sure to call ahead before stopping by: 309-252-2693!
Cedar Ridge represents the beginning of the local food journey—a place where healthy, ethical food is born. From farms like Cedar Ridge, fresh food travels through markets and local shops like Cornucopia and finds its way to the dining table. This is how a local food system works—neighbors growing for neighbors, with each link in the chain bringing flavor, nourishment, and purpose to the people of Forgottonia.
The Bistro 101
Operating in a historic 19th-century building once home to The Canton House, Bistro 101 is a culinary cornerstone of Canton that blends fine dining with a passion for fresh, local food. Since opening its doors in 2013, Chef, owner, and handyman Jeromie Hale has been committed to offering guests scratch-made dishes using quality ingredients, many of them grown right in the community.
For Hale, “local” means truly close to home. He sources produce for the restaurant from the Canton Farmers Market, praises its vibrant atmosphere and live music, and even contributes herbs from his own home garden to The Bistro’s kitchen. While the seasonal nature of local farming means certain items are only available part of the year, Bistro 101’s menu changes every two to two-and-a-half months to reflect what’s fresh and available—like sweet corn and juicy, locally-grown tomatoes in early summer.
The restaurant also works with West Side Organics, located about a quarter-mile away, and features locally grown fingerling potatoes. Wines from Spoon River Junction Winery round out the menu’s commitment to regional flavor.
“The difference is remarkable compared to what you’re getting from the grocery stores,” Hale says. “The flavor is so much more bright.” Beyond taste, supporting nearby producers helps keep money in the community and reduces the carbon footprint of each meal.
Each menu item is curated to accentuate the individual flavor and richness of the fresh ingredients, letting those ingredients create the flavorful base of an all around delectable dish. Hale shares that customers always respond enthusiastically to the local focus, especially when they recognize the names or farms behind the ingredients. Local supporting local.
Two of the co-owners- Hannah Lyon and Chef Renu McKee.
Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli
Near the railroad tracks in Galesburg, Cornucopia Natural Market & Deli stands as a vibrant hub for health-conscious shoppers, sustainability advocates, and anyone seeking thoughtfully sourced food. Cornucopia is a majority women-owned company, and ownership is shared between Hannah Lyon, Susan Lyon, Maury Lyon, and Chef Renu McKee. Cornucopia prioritizes both community wellness and environmental integrity through a curated selection of products that are as local as they are wholesome.
“We are always looking to support local producers,” Hannah says—and their shelves prove it. Customers can find honey from Hilltop Honey in Lewistown, meats and eggs from Grateful Graze in Cambridge, mushrooms from Wild Growth in Viola, and much more. Seasonal produce and plant starts from Galesburg’s Elementary Earthworks also make regular appearances, along with items like Balm Diggity lip balm out of Wyoming, Illinois, and tallow products from Rick’s Pecker Palace in Elmwood.
In the deli and kitchen, Cornucopia strikes a balance between global flavor and local freshness. Certified organic produce comes from regional distributors, but during the growing season, local veggies often find their way into Chef Renu’s daily dishes. Tomato Zucchini Curry is a recurring favorite. Hannah even brings surplus vegetables from her own home garden to contribute to the deli’s offerings.
Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli. Photo Courtesy of Hannah Lyon, co-owner
Cornucopia’s commitment doesn’t stop at food. Their supplement line is rigorously vetted, with all items lab-tested for potency and purity—a crucial step in ensuring food and produce are as natural and safe as possible. Their guiding principle? “We check the ingredients, so you don’t have to.”
For Cornucopia, access to locally produced, natural, and organic food leads to a healthier lifestyle, and also becomes a foundation for a more connected, resilient world. In an era of global supply chains and impersonal curbside pickups, Hannah sees local food as a way to reconnect with the land, reduce our environmental footprint, and rebuild community. “Once people see themselves as part of nature,” she says, “it is easier to exist in community with other people and living organisms.” That vision comes alive at Cornucopia through every conversation, every carefully chosen product, and every meal made with local abundance and care.