♪ >>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

WE ALL KNOW ILLINOIS IS THE TOP PRODUCER OF SOY BEANS, NUMBER TWO FOR FIELD CORN AND MANY OF US KNOW ILLINOIS PRODUCES 85 TO 90% OF THE PUMPKINS AND, OF COURSE, MORTON BEING THE PUMPKIN CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SPECIALTY CROPS?

YOU'RE PROBABLY SAYING FIRST I NEED TO KNOW WHAT SPECIALTY CROPS ARE.

WE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU.

WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS SPECIALTY GROWERS ASSOCIATION, RAGHELA SCAVUZZO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND ALSO WITH US IS A SPECIALTY CROP GROWER, GREG ANDERSON IS HERE.

GREG AND HIS WIFE, THEY OPERATE THE TRIPLE M FARM, MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE OUTSIDE OF CLINTON, ILLINOIS.

>> YEP.

>> AND LATER ON, WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO VISIT THAT WE MADE TO THE YESSING YAEGER FARM.

FIRST, SPECIALTY CROP, DEFINITION TO GET US STARTED.

>> IT'S WHAT YOU THINK OF ALL THE TIME, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBS, HONEYS, FLOWERS, ANYTHING THAT'S UNIQUE BUT OFTEN TIMES IS YOUR FOOD.

GE WHAT, WE CAN GROW ALMOST ALL OF IT HERE EXCEPT BANANAS, AVOCADOS AND CITRUS.

>> SO, YOU GROW SPECIALTY CROPS.

YOU HAVE ONE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

WHAT DO WE HAVE?

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A BOLD RULER WATERMELON.

A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, WE'RE CALLING THESE BLACK DIRT VALANCE.

THEY'RE GROWN IN BLACK DIRT BY CLINTON, ILLINOIS.

>> WHAT MAKES IT -- IS IT DIFFERENT THAN A SANDY WATER MELLEN?

>> IT'S NOT.

THEY'RE JUST NOT KNOWN FOR GROWING IN BLACK DIRT.

WE GOT DEEP BLACK DIRT WHERE WE LIVE OVER BY CLINTON.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL THEM BLACK DIRT MELONS.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING NUTRIENTS IN THERE.

WE CAN DO THAT REALLY WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ALSO, ON THE WIDE SHOTS YOU'LL SEE THE MUM.

OF COURSE GREG AND HIS WIFE, MARIAH, OPERATE MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE.

YOU GOT STARTED AS A MUM GROWER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH, YEAH.

13 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED WITH 300 MUMS, 300 LITTLE ONES.

WE WERE PROUD OF THEM THAT YEAR BUT WE'VE DONE A BETTER JOB AT IT.

NOW WE'RE AT 15,000 MUMS ON OUR FARM.

>> SO, YOU STARTED WITH THE MUM, AS WE SEE HERE, THIS NICE, YELLOW MUM.

THAT'S A LARGE MUM IN MY ESTIMATION, BUT WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GROW INTO THE SPECIALTY CROP ARENA?

>> YEAH.

MY HISTORY WAS SPECIALTY CROP PUMPKINS IN ILLINOIS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UP THERE WITH MY PARENTS AND WHATNOT.

AS WE KIND OF MOVED DOWN, BOUGHT A FEW ACRES, AND WE HAD STUFF TO DO, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MUMS BUT MARIAH DID.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED.

MARIAH GOT US INTO IT.

>> AND YOU CREPT INTO THE DIRT MELONS?

>> YEAH.

WE STARTED WITH MUMS, DOING IT AS A HOBBY.

WE WENT FROM 300 TO 1,000, 1,000 TO,000.

WE KEPT PROGRESSING OVER THE 13 YEARS.

ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE STARTED GETTING INTO THE CSA PROGRAM AND USING OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO SUPPLY OUR LOCAL STORES WITH TOMATOES, PEPPERS, SWEET CORN AND SOME OF THOSE ARE ON OUR ACRES ALSO.

>> FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW CSA, THAT IS -- >> COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE.

IT'S A MEMBERSHIP OR PRESCRIPTION TO A FARM, AND YOU GET BASICALLY THE FIRST PRODUCTION THROUGHOUT THE SEASON IN THE DIVERSITY OF WHAT THAT FARM ACTUALLY OFFERS.

>> THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS ALL OF OUR SPECIALTY FARMERS, ABOUT 3600 SPECIALTY FARMS IN ILLINOIS?

>> YEAH, IT'S 3600, GIVE OR TAKE.

IT'S ABOUT A $500,000,000 INDUSTRY HERE IN ILLINOIS.

>> SO, WHAT DOES THE SPECIALTY GROWERS ASSOCIATION DO TO SUPPORT THEM?

>> WE ARE A NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION, WORKING AT ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OUR FARMS.

WE SUPPORT THEM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND RESOURCES, AND PROVISIONS.

AND WE DO ADVOCACY FOR THEM, MAKING SURE WE FACE ISSUES THEY MIGHT FACE BOTH IN ILLINOIS AND FEDERALLY TO MAKE SURE THE INDUSTRY IS SUSTAINABLE.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN A MOMENT.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO GREG AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF -- YOU'RE A SMALL FARM, RELATIVELY SPEAKING.

YOU DO DO FIELD CORN IN ADDITION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN MEETING THE DEMAND?

YOU HAVE, HOW DO YOU SELL IT?

HOW DO YOU -- WE HAD A BAD YEAR THIS YEAR.

OR CHALLENGING YEAR, LET'S SAY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WAS THIS YEAR LIKE FOR YOU?

>> THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFERENT THAN MOST.

THAT'S KIND OF EVERY YEAR WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHALLENGE, WHETHER IT'S MOISTURE OR, DISEASE OR WHATNOT.

THIS YEAR, WE TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD.

WE DO A DIVERSE AMOUNT OF STUFF, HYDROUPON HYDROPONIC.

WE GOT THE CROP ON THE GROUND.

THEY WERE LOOKING REALLY NICE.

END OF JUNE WE GOT 10 INCHES.

WE KIND OF RELATE TO THAT THROUGH THIS AREA, WHETHER IT WAS MORE THAN THAT OR LESS.

WE HAPPENED TO GET TEN INCHES WHERE WE WERE HAVING TO KIND OF REPLANT SOME CROPS.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP THE WATER AWAY FROM THE MUMS, JUST SO WE COULD FULFILL OUR SEASON.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF LOSS.

WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF LOSS ON SOME OF OUR CROPS.

OVERALL OUR SEASON TURNED OUT REALLY WELL.

>> THIS YEAR, PUMPKIN GROWERS HAD A CHALLENGE.

THERE WAS A FUNGUS.

IT'S NOT REAL COMMON, BUT IN ABOUT JULY, THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THE FUNGUS MIGHT AFFECT THE PUMPKIN CROP.

>> YEAH.

SO IN REALLY RAINY SEASONS, WHICH WHERE THE PUMPKIN CAPITAL WAS, TOO MUCH WATER WILL DECREE ATE THIS FUNGUS, BOTH IN THERE WAS REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR PUMPKIN PRODUCTION THIS YEAR.

MOST OF OUR FARMS, LUCKILY, CAME OUT OF IT.

WE HAD OKAY YEARS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THERE WAS CONCERN, WOULD THERE NOT BE PUMPKIN ON THE TABLES, BUT SO FAR, SO MUCH, WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED TEN INCHES OF RAIN.

IN TALKING TO THE WEATHER SERVICE, THEY INDICATED THAT THE TREND MAY BE TO SEE NOT NECESSARILY MORE RAIN PER YEAR, BUT MORE INTENSE RAINSTORMS.

>> SURE.

>> AND THEN PERIODS OF TIME WHERE IT'S DRY AND THEN MORE INTENSE RAINSTORMS.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

YOU HAD THAT CHALLENGE THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH.

WE'VE HAD THAT CHALLENGE THE LAST THREE YEARS.

PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, WE ALWAYS GOT IT IN THE PLANTING SEASON.

SO, WE WERE GETTING A BUNCH OF RAIN EARLY, THESE SUBSTANTIAL ONES.

WE GOT TO RECOVER AND GOT THAT HARVEST PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT.

WE MADE IT THROUGH ON OUR FARM.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, THAT WE'RE LOOKING ON PROTECTING SOME OF OUR CROPS.

MY GRANDPA USED TO TELL ME, CONTROL, CONTROL.

YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE RAIN.

IT'S GOING TO COME WHEN IT COMES OR NOT, IF IT'S DRY.

WE'RE LOOKING TO PUT SOME TILE IN TO REMOVE SOME OF THE WATER IN A TIMELY FASHION.

SO, THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO.

WE'RE PRETTY LUCKY ON OUR TEN-ACRE FARM.

IT HAS A NICE SLOPE AWAY, BUT WE DO CAPTURE SOME, IN SOME SPOTS THAT CAN AFFECT OUR CROP.

THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR THIS NEXT YEAR.

>> TILING?

>> TILING, YEAH.

>> OUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THIS PROGRAM AND I HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT TO A FARM NEARMEN MENALK, ILLINOIS, IT'S THE YAEGER FARM.

HOW THE FAMILIAR TRANSITIONED FROM A CORN AND BEAN FARM TO SPECIALTY CROPS HAS AN INTERNATIONAL TWIST TO IT.

>> WE ADOPTED OUR DAUGHTER, ANYA, FROM RUSSIA.

IT WILL BE 18 YEARS THIS END OF OCTOBER.

AND SHE LIKED TO GARDEN AND GROW FLOWERS.

SO, THE FOLLOWING SPRING, WE STARTED GROWING FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES, AND IT'S JUST PROGRESSED FROM A SMALL PATCH TO 13 ACRES NOW.

>> I CAME FROM ORPHANAGE, SO I KIND OF HAD THAT IN THE BEHIND MY BACKGROUND, BECAUSE I DID THAT IN THE ORPHANAGE.

WE GREW VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.

AND WHEN I TOLD MY NEW FAMILY ABOUT THIS, WHAT I DID IN THE ORPHANAGE, THEY WERE KIND OF LIKE, WELL, WE STILL CAN CONTINUE DOING THAT.

IT STARTED WITH JUST A SMALL ACRE, AND THEN WE JUST START GROWING, BECAUSE MY -- BOTH MY PARENTS KIND OF SAW HOW MUCH I ENJOY JUST -- EVEN WITH JUST ONE LITTLE ACRE, ENJOY GROWING FLOWERS AND STUFF.

AND WE JUST BECAME ADDING MORE ACRES AND MORE ACRES.

>> SEEMS TO ME IT'S HEALTHIER.

IT TASTES BETTER.

IT'S A LOT FRESHER THAN WHAT YOU CAN GET IN THE GROCERY STORE.

WE'LL GO OUT AND PICK TODAY FOR TOMORROW'S MARKET.

>> FRESH FROM GARDEN TO TABLE IS, OBVIOUSLY, THE BEST PRODUCE YOU EVER GET, BECAUSE IT LITERALLY JUST GOT PICKED SOMETIMES 12 HOURS, SOMETIMES EVEN LESS THAN 12 HOURS.

AND SEEING THE CUSTOMERS COMING BACK FOR THE FRESH STUFF, BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND THEY KNOW HOW FRESH THAT STUFF IS, YOU CAN'T COMPARE.

>> WHEN YOU DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS SELLING VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS AND WHATEVER, THE SUCCULENTS, WE ALSO SELL MEAT AND EGGS HERE.

YOU GROW -- YOU GET A CUSTOMER BASE, AND THEY START LIKING YOU, AND THEY BECOME FRIENDS.

>> IT CAN BE WHOLESALE.

IT CAN BE A FARMER'S MARKET.

IT CAN BE SOMEBODY COMES TO THE FARM AND BUY DIRECT.

I CAN DO WEDDINGS, TOO.

PEOPLE JUST REACH OUT TO ME AND ASK, HEY, CAN YOU MAKE THIS BOUQUET OR DO YOU HAVE THIS?

I JUST LOVE HOW NOT JUST OUR GARDEN WAS GROWING AND I WAS GROWING WITH MY FAMILY.

NOW I HAVE MY OWN FAMILY, AND I WANT TO LEAD THAT EXAMPLE, GOOD EXAMPLE FOR MY KIDS.

AND THEY LITERALLY ENJOY BEING ON THE FARM AND WATCH WHAT I'M DOING, AND FOLLOWING ME.

>> AND THE YAEGERS GO TO ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT FARMER'S MARKETS EVERY WEEK.

NOW, THERE'S THREE PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE, LOWELL AND HIS WIFE, AND ANYA.

BUT THEY PICK THE FRUIT, THE VEGETABLES THE DAY BEFORE, TAKE IT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET THE NEXT DAY.

THEY DO THAT FOUR TIMES A WEEK.

YOU DON'T GO TO -- YOU GO TO ONE FARMER'S MARKET?

>> JUST ONE, YEAH.

>> YOU LIMIT THAT WAY?

FIRST OF ALL, YOU AND MARIAH HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS?

>> YEP, WE SURE DO.

>> HOW DO YOU SELL YOUR PRODUCE?

>> YEAH.

WE KIND OF TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF AN APPROACH, EACH FARM REALLY DOES.

THEY SHOULD, OVERALL.

WHERE WE'RE LOCATED WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT LAYERS.

WE FIGURED IT OUT PRETTY GOOD TO USE A NETWORK.

WE SUPPLY TWO DIFFERENT STORES WITH OUR MAIN PRODUCTS, BIG FIVES, SWEET CORN, MUMS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS, CUCUMBERS, SOME SUMMER SQUASH.

ONE LOCAL MARKET FILLS OUR TIME IN THE EVENING DURING THE WEEK AND WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT WE LIVE WITHIN ABOUT FIVE MILES OF 1,000 CAMP SPOTS.

THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE NETWORKS WE'VE DEVELOPED TIMING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THAT FITS INTO OUR WHOLE OPERATION OPERATION.

WE HAVE PARTNERS WITH THE LOCAL STORES.

WE HAVE CAMPGROUNDS WE COVER, ONE LOCAL MARKET, AND OPEN AT OUR FARM ON THE WEEKENDS, TOO.

>> YOU HAVE A STORE ON YOUR PROPERTY?

>> YEP, YEP.

>> SO, IS THERE A LOT OF WORD OF MOUTH THAT'S DEVELOPED OVER TIME?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S -- WE KEEP SEEING IT GROW ON OUR OPERATION EVERY YEAR.

MORE AND MORE FOLKS COME OUT TO THE FARM THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

WHILE WE ADDED HYDROPONICS, BLACK DIRT MELONS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND FINISH OFF THE MUMS.

>> PEOPLE DO COME ON HIS PROPERTY, GREG MENTIONED.

THAT LEADS TO A BILL THAT'S PENDING IN THE AGRICULTURAL BILL.

IT'S NOT BEEN PASSED.

IF IT DOES, WHAT BENEFIT DOES GREG GET FROM THAT?

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A FEW YEARS AND ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON IT.

IT WILLS A PROTECTION FOR OUR FARMERS TO KEEP FROM GETTING SUED FOR ABOUT ANYTHING ON THEIR FARM.

KIND OF LIKE THE SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK AT A HOTEL POOL.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE DOING -- NOT BEING NEGLIGENT ON YOUR FARM, YOU'RE PROTECTED FROM THINGS LIKE GETTING SCRATCHED BY A TREE OR IF SOMEONE HANGS THEIR LEGS OFF THE WAGON RIDE.

RIGHT NOW OUR FARMS AREN'T PROTECTED FROM THAT.

SO, SOMEBODY COULD SUE THEM FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, AND OUR FARMS HAVE TO HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE TO PROTECT THAT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

SO, LIMITED LIABILITY WOULD ALLOW FOR OUR FARMS TO KIND OF HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SECURITY NET AND SEE THE INDUSTRY GROW.

YOU SEE IT AT BASEBALL STADIUMS AND DIFFERENT PIECES HERE IN ILLINOIS ALREADY.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FARMS CAN THRIVE AND BE PROTECTED FROM THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.

>> ONE OTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT DID PASS WAS SIGNED AND BECOMES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st IS THE FARM TO MARKET ACT.

WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR PEOPLE LIKE GREG ANDERSON?

>> SO, WITH SPECIALTY CROPS YOU HAVE INEVITABLY WHAT WE CALL SECONDS.

THEY WON'T SELL JUST TO EAT FROM REGULAR CONSUMPTION FROM RAW AND MAY BE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED OR BRUISED.

WE CALL THAT VALUE ADDED PRODUCTION, JAMS, JELLIES, SALSAS, BAKED GOODS OUT OF THEM.

TYPICALLY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WHICH IS EXTREMELY CERTIFIED, OFF-SITE AND EXPENSIVE TO BUILD ON YOUR FARM OR RENT.

COTTAGE FOOD LAW ALLOWS BUSINESSES, AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING HIGH RISK, THEY CAN MAKE IT IN THEIR HOME KITCHEN WITH A PERMIT.

THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE, BUT CAN SELL IT DIRECTLY ON THEIR FARM OR AT FARMER'S MARKETS.

THIS NEW LEGISLATION EXPANDS THAT RULE.

WE SAW IN COVID ONLINE SALES IS IMPORTANT.

THAT WASN'T ALLOWED WITH PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.

NOW THEY CAN SELL IT ONLINE AND SHIP IT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THEY CAN ALSO GO TO FESTIVALS AND FAIRS.

SOMEWHERE LIKE MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE THAT HAS FESTIVALS CAN NOW SELL IT DURING THAT FESTIVAL INSTEAD OF JUST IN LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, STRAWBERRY JAM?

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

THAT GIVES US WHATEVER PRODUCE OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU USE, ESPECIALLY FRESH ONES, RIGHT?

THEY DON'T HAVE A GREAT SHELF LIFE.

THEY HAVE GREAT TASTE WHEN YOU PULL THEM OFF THE VINE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A PERCENTAGE OF WASTE.

STUFF THAT DOESN'T SIT REAL WELL BUT HAS A PURPOSE.

THIS OPENS UP THE PURPOSE FOR FARMS LIKE ME TO LOOK DOWN ANOTHER AVENUE TO HAVE, TO USE WHAT THEY GROW.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HYDROPONIC STRAWBERRIES.

>> SURE.

>> MIGHT YOU LOOK INTO THAT AFTER JANUARY?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS ON SEVERAL AVENUES.

STRAWBERRIES IS ONE THAT PERKED OUR INTEREST.

WHENEVER THE SEASON COMES IN AND WE AREN'T GETTING THAT PRODUCTION, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE OUR PRODUCT IN THEIR HARDEN, WE CAN PRESERVE IT, RIGHT?

OR IF WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE FARM TO JUSTIFY IT, BUT WE CAN USE THAT PRODUCT TO ACTUALLY ENHANCE IT, AND WE CAN USE IT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

>> SO, I MENTIONED HYDROPONIC STRAWBERRIES.

>> YEP.

>> PEOPLE WILL MAKE THE ASSUMPTION WE GROW A FRUIT IN WATER.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

WHY DO YOU DO THIS?

AND WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH.

SO, THIS IS A UNIQUE OPERATION OR WAY IT LOOKS.

IN ILLINOIS, WE CAN'T FIND ANYBODY THAT QUITE DOES IT LIKE US.

WE HAVE VERTICAL STACKS.

OUR LOWEST STACK OF STRAWBERRIES IS JUST ABOUT KNEE LEVEL.

AND OUR HIGHEST ONE IS RIGHT ABOUT CHEST LEVEL ANYWAY.

IT'S EASY TO PICK.

THE OLD DAYS WHERE YOU HAD TO GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, AND PEOPLE STILL DO IT THIS WAY.

YOU HAD TO SHIMMY AROUND, GET DOWN, GET DIRTY, WHATNOT, THIS IS NOT THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS.

THE WAY THE STRAWBERRIES THAT WE ACTUALLY USE, IT'S HYDROPONIC, WHICH MEANS A SOLUTION BUT STRAWBERRIES NEED AIR SPACE AND FLOW IN THE ROOTS.

WE DO IT IN A MEDIUM, AND WE ACTUALLY WATER THEM EIGHT TIMES A DAY, A VERY SLOW, LITTLE AMOUNT THAT ACTUALLY FLOWS THROUGH THERE THAT THEY GET THE NUTRIENTS FROM.

IT KIND OF DOES THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF YOUNG KIDS TO GRANDPARENTS TO COME OUT ON OUR FARM AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT PHYSICALLY, AND BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM.

AND IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT IT.

IT'S VERY EASY.

>> SO THE NUTRIENTS ARE NOT FROM THE SOIL, THEY'RE FROM A NATURAL SOLUTION?

>> YEP.

>> THAT'S MIXED IN WITH THE WATER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

>> SO, LET ME TURN TO THE QUESTION OF ORGANIC.

WHAT IS THE DEFENSE OF ORGAN WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ORGANIC?

I'LL GET TO GREG ABOUT WHETHER HE HAS AN ORGANIC FARM OR NOT.

>> TECHNICALLY THERE'S A USDA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WHICH MEANS THERE'S THREE YEARS OF -- BEFORE YOU CAN CERTIFY FOR IT, FOLLOWING A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF RULES.

APPROVED PRODUCTS YOU CAN OR CAN'T PUT ON THERE.

COULD BE SYNTHETIC OR NONSYNTHETIC.

APPROVED SEEDS AS WELL AS APPROVED GROWING PRACTICES AND RULES OF TREATED WOOD AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU BASICALLY FOLLOW A LIST AND SOMEBODY COMES AND AUDITS YOUR FARM.

ANY TIME YOU COULD LOSE THAT CERTIFICATION IF YOUR SEEDS AREN'T THERE OR HAD ANYTHING HAPPEN AND YOU HAVE TO START THE THREE-YEAR PROCESS OVER.

TECHNICALLY, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S ALLOWED TO PUT THE LABEL OR WORDS "ORGANIC" ON IT.

YOU WILL FIND FARMS HAVE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OR BELIEFS OF WHAT THEY FEEL IS ORGANIC OR HOW THEY DO THEIR PROCESSES.

YOU MAY SEE CERTIFICATION OF NATURALLY GROWN, WHICH IS A PEER-TO-PEER ORGANIZATION, OR CERTIFIED PLUS.

EACH HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF PRACTICES.

OR THEY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO DO CERTIFICATION, BUT FOLLOW A VERY SPECIFIC PRACTICE TO THEIR FARM.

>> SO, MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE DOES WHAT?

>> WE ARE ORGANIC.

WE DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD, BUT WHAT WE DO IS TEACH PEOPLE HOW WE PRODUCE FOOD.

SO, WE DO PRACTICES SO IT KIND OF HELPS ON SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE TO USE OR COULD USE TO PROTECT OUR CROP.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PRODUCTIONS THAT KEEP THE DOORS OPEN DAY-TO-DAY, AND HAVE PRODUCTION ON THE SHELF IF NEEDED.

WE HAD HIGH HUMIDITY, HIGH MOISTURE, HIGH DISEASE, SO WE HAVE TO USE FUNGICIDES.

IF OUR CROP IS NICE AND HEALTHY, IT FIGHTS OFF THAT STUFF NATURALLY ANYWAYS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THAT STUFF.

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN CHALLENGING SO WE'VE HAD TO USE FUNGICIDES.

WE USE HIGH TUNNELS AS OUR ADVANTAGE TO ALLOW US TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE THE DISEASE COMES FROM.

WE USE BLACK PLARVETION WHICH IS ON THE GROUND, SO A LOT OF OUR CROPS THAT WE GROW BESIDES OUR SWEET CORN, WE HAVE A BARRIER.

HIGH HUMIDITY, HIGH MOISTURE THAT'S BOUNCING OFF THE GROUND, THAT CREATES INFECTION.

WE HAVE PRACTICES THROUGH THAT WE USE THAT HELPS US ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE RISK.

>> RAGHELA, WE STARTED BY DISCUSSING ILLINOIS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS FIELD CORN, SOY BEANS AND PUMPKINS, BUT WHAT ELSE DOES ILLINOIS PRODUCE A LOT OF?

>> WE PRODUCE A LOT OF A VARIETY OF THINGS.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE HORSERADISH PRODUCERS IN THE COUNTRY.

SEEMS RANDOM, BUT WE ARE.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS GROWS MOST OF THE HORSERADISH IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE ARE TOP TEN IN CALLIFLOWER, BROCCOLI, BEANS.

WE HAVE THE SOIL AND SEASONALITY OF OUR STATE TO GROW EVERYTHING BUT CITRUS, AVOCADOS AND BANANAS.

WE CAN HAVE ONE OF THE LONGER GROWING SEASONS BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF OUR STATE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOIL.

YOU CALL IT BLACK DIRT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE SOIL NEAR CLINTON -- YOU CAN GROW JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IN IT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE KNOWN FOR CORN AND SOY BEANS BECAUSE WE HAVE HIGH BLACK DIRT OR HIGH FERTILITY SOIL, BUT WE CAN GROW EVERYTHING IN THAT, TOO.

WE'RE KNOWN FOR CORN AND SOY BEANS BUT CORN, WATERMELONS, MUMS, ET CETERA, WE HAVE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CAN BE VERY PRODUCTFUL, PRODUCTIVITY ON OUR SOIL.

IT DOESN'T MATTER, SWEET CORN, ET CETERA.

THOSE ARE HIGH-VALUE PRODUCTS THAT DON'T TAKE AS MANY ACRES TO DO.

I CALL IT BLACK DIRT BUT I CALL THESE MELONS BLACK DIRT.

YOU CAN GROW THEM ANYWHERE, INCLUDING BLACK DIRT.

THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THEM ON OUR PROPERTY.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT TO MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE TO YAEGER FARMS, ET CETERA.

YOU CONDUCT A CONFERENCE EVERY JANUARY.

WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THAT CONFERENCE?

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS CAN GREG AND MARIAH AND LOWELL YAEGER LEARN?

>> EVERY YEAR FOR 30 YEARS, THE ILLINOIS SPECIALTY GROWERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PUTTING ON THE SPECIALTY CROP CONFERENCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

IT BRINGS IN 600 GROWERS WHERE THEY GET TO INTERACT AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.

WE ALSO BRING RESEARCHERS AND SPECIALISTS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PURDUE, NORTH CAROLINA, MICHIGAN, TO TALK ABOUT FUNGICIDES AND DISEASE THEY MIGHT FIND, WAYS TO POLLINATE, NEW VARIETIES THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GROW.

WE DO THIS ON OUR ALL OUR SPECIALTY CROPS.

EVERY OTHER YEAR WE TALK ABOUT SWEET CORN ON ONE DAY BUT HAVE A VEGETABLE PRODUCTION TRACK, FRUIT PRODUCTION TRACK, AND DO SOME BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURAL TOURISM.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR GROWERS TO COME IN AND GET THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THEY NEED.

THIS IS THE LARGEST CONFERENCE, AND ONLY CONFERENCE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE BRING IN OVER 60 EXHIBITERS FROM COMPANIES TO PACKAGING THAT ARE SPECIALTY IN SPECIAL CROPS.

>> DO YOU ATTEND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT -- WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

IT CHANGES UP.

NOT ONLY DO WE LEARN ABOUT HOW TO GROW BETTER, BUT WE CAN ALSO LEARN FROM COMPANIES THAT HELP ENSURE YOU, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

OR PRACTICES THAT WE CAN VISIT WITH OTHER FARMERS OR INDUSTRY FOLKS TO SAY OKAY, MAYBE THAT WILL WORK FOR US.

IT'S NOT JUST CROPS AND HOW TO PRODUCE IT.

IT'S ALSO THOSE OTHER PIECES OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE GET EXPOSURE TO AND GET TO VISIT WITH SOMEBODY ON THE OFFSEASON, RIGHT?

IN JANUARY, WE CAN'T DO A WHOLE BUNCH BUT CAN HAVE TIME TO VISIT.

>> YOU CAN VISIT WITH OTHER SPECIALTY CROP FARMERS.

AND DO YOU SHARE EXPERIENCES THAT MIGHT HELP YOU?

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

CHALLENGES THAT COME ACROSS.

EVERY YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WHATEVER GETS THROWN YOUR WAY, WE CAN SAY HEY, I HAD THIS LAST YEAR.

THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE?

FOLKS FROM IOWA, DOWN SOUTH OR UP IN MICHIGAN COME IN AND WE CAN KIND OF BOUNCE IDEAS OF WHAT WORKS FOR THEM AND MAY WORK FOR US, AND VICE VERSA.

>> WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF SPECIALTY CROPS IN ILLINOIS?

>> IT IS A GROWING INDUSTRY.

WHAT'S FASCINATING ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SEEING BEGINNING FARMERS COME IN.

URBAN AGRICULTURE, THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE A TRACK AT THE CONFERENCE.

PEOPLE WANT TO GROW IN URBAN COMMUNITIES, GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.

WE'RE SEEING THIS AS THE NEXT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.

SO, IF YOU ARE WANTING TO GET BACK ON YOUR GROW CROP FARM A COUPLE OF ACRES CAN BE DEDICATED TO PUMPKIN PATCH, OR GROWING SWEET CORN.

WE'RE SEEING THE NEXT GENERATION, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COME ON TO THE FARM WITHOUT HAVING AS MUCH ACCESS.

>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE -- HOW MANY ACRES?

>> 10 ACRES.

>> AND HOW MANY SQUARE FEET OF GREENHOUSES?

>> BOY, THAT'S QUITE A BIT.

PROBABLY ABOUT 50 BY 150.

>> SO, PEOPLE CAN DO IT IT IN SMALLER AREAS?

>> THEY DO.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGER SPECIALTY CROPS.

YOU SEE A LOT THAT ARE DOING ONE ACRE OR HALF ACRE.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, RAG ELLA SCAVUZZO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS SPECIALTY GROWERS ASSOCIATION, AND TO GREG ANDERSON, CO-OWNER AND FARMER AT THE TRIPLE M FARM, MARIAH'S MUMS AND MORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME ON "AT ISSUE."

JOIN US THEN FOR A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL PROBABLY END UP TALKING ABOUT THAT PENDING LEGISLATION, BUT WE'LL BE HAVING TWO SENATORS AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES, TALKING ABOUT ILLINOIS LEGISLATION LATIVE SESSIONS ON THE NEXT "AT ISSUE."