’Tis the Season for Local With Our Illinois Gift Guide

It’s the season of giving, and local producers and artisans have the perfect gift options for family and friends with this Illinois gift guide. Got a foodie on your list? Check. Someone who loves to craft? Check. Someone looking to support small businesses? Check. Our Illinois gift guide features products from local producers, including cheese, honey, rice and more.

These companies are just a few of the many throughout the state offering great gift ideas. Discover Illinois Food is an online resource from the Illinois Department of Agriculture that lists local companies and their offerings. You can find the companies highlighted in this story, along with many others, by checking out the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s local products map.

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Marcoot Jersey Creamery

Cheese, please! Marcoot Jersey Creamery, a seventh-generation family dairy in Greenville, has the perfect dairy delights for the season. Choose from a variety of gift boxes filled with cheeses or handmade fudge made from creamy quark cheese. There’s even an option for man’s best friend featuring Cheesy Chomper dog snacks. With a commitment to quality and tradition, the boxes are perfectly packed and ready to ship across the U.S.

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery is a nationally recognized, award-winning goat dairy and produce farm in Champaign. Current owners Lauren and Jeffrey Brokish are continuing the legacy of the farm founders with a vision for sustainable, community-centered agriculture. Grab some delicious chevre frais, fresh feta or seasonal Camembert online, as well as goat’s milk soap, jams, coffee and more. The farm also offers curated boxes, including a snackin’ box, breakfast box and celebrate spring cheese box.

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Ropp Jersey Cheese

Ropp Dairy is a seventh-generation family farm in Normal. Committed to the highest quality products and maintaining the integrity of the local landscape, the family offers a delicious variety of cheeses, producing more than 70 types, including white cheddar, colby jack, baby Swiss, smoked Gouda and more. Plus, they offer fresh cheese curds. Pick your flavors and send someone a gift box – because what better way to show you care than cheese?

Cahokia Rice

Grown in McClure, Cahokia Rice is a family-owned and -operated farm produces high-protein, non-GMO, locally grown rice. Blake Gerard is the fourth generation running the farm, with a passion for quality and an intimate understanding of the rice market. Cahokia Rice is a strain of rice that’s naturally 53% higher in protein than traditional rice with a certified low glycemic index and is heavy-metal free. Milled and packaged in small batches to maximize taste and nutrition, the rice is available in both brown and white varieties, making it a perfect option for those interested in natural, nutritious grains.

Janie’s Mill

For the baker in your life, Janie’s Mill is the perfect place for locally grown and milled organic flours and mixes. Great baked goods start with passionate farmers and millers. Located in Ashkum, the mill began stone-grinding grains in 2017. Today, Janie’s Mill offers a variety of wheat, corn and rye products from all-purpose flour and polenta to pastry flour and more. The mill is a legacy to Janie, the daughter of one owner and sister to another, who passed away in 2001.

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Esther’s Place

Mother-daughter duo Donna Lehrer and Natasha Lehrer Lewis founded Esther’s Place in Big Rock, which offers classes, wool, yarn, felting needles, hand balm, sheep soap, kits and much more. Donna is a small-farms activist, and Natasha is an avid fiber educator and enthusiast. Inspiration for the business came from the Cheviot sheep on their farm and a passion for keeping hand-spinning and needle crafts vibrant for future generations, as well as the Bible verse Esther 4:14.

Funks Grove Maple Sirup

Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup has a sweet history of producing pure maple sirup, maple products, baking mixes, flour, gift boxes and more. The Funk family draws sap from about 6,000 taps on their farm to make the sticky ingredient. In addition, the sixth generation of the farm recently started a small fruits and grains farm, growing cherries, pears, peaches, currants and more. Head to their website to purchase delicious maple products and gifts. 

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Pilot Knob Farm

Know a popcorn lover? Buy them a salty snack that doesn’t require flossing after. Pilot Knob Farm in Oneida grows hull-less popcorn varieties. Grown on a fifth-generation family farm, the popcorn technically does have a hull, but it’s much thinner and softer, so it doesn’t get stuck in your teeth. Products include microwaveable popcorn on the cob and bagged kernels, ready-to-eat bagged popcorn, Mason jars of kernels, and gift sets.

Raines Honey Farm

Life is sweet, so buy your loved ones some local honey from Raines Honey Farm in Davis. The small beekeeping business is a family operation dedicated to producing premium honey products such as seasonal honey, hot honey, spun (or creamed) honey, beeswax lotion, soap, lip balm, candles and more. Products can be ordered online or by phone for pickup.

Note: Product giveaways from this post were featured in our Winter 2025-26 issue. The giveaway has now ended. Thanks to all who participated.

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