CCFB News» Carrie Steinweg

The effects of the pandemic are far-reaching, affecting every individual in some way and in many cases hugely overhauling what their lives were like before March of 2020. One big change brought about by the pandemic has been the increased need for food assistance. According to Feeding America, food pantries served 55 percent more in 2020 than in the past and in the early days of the pandemic 4 in 10 people visiting food pantries were there for the first time.

For consumers looking at food labels, it can be difficult to understand them and know what the claims mean and if they’ve been verified or are regulated. One label that consumers can feel confident about is one which is “organic certified.”

Traditionally, Illinois has seen much of its agricultural land used to grow corn, soybeans, and a variety of other produce, but it’s now in its third season of also growing a crop that has had a controversial and complicated past. Hemp has been grown and then banned. And then grown again at the urging of the government during World War II and then banned again.

When you shop for food, there can be some confusion when reading the labels. There may be ingredients you can’t pronounce. There may be terms that are unclear. There may be foods that aren’t that good for you that are touted as so.

Mention of the word hemp can often conjure up two thoughts. One is the misconception is that hemp is synonymous with marijuana. The other is the World War II era when many wartime needs were produced from hemp.

We’re headed into the season of travel and day trips as mother nature brings on the sunshine and puts the snowflakes and harsh temperatures to bed for a few months. Agritourism plays a big part in those spring, summer and fall experiences where families can visit area farms to make lasting memories.