SPRINGFIELD, Ill.– A Schnuck’s Grocery Store and over 15 Illinois food companies sampling on the north end of Springfield will serve as the back drop as Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Robert Flider and local dignitaries take the Buy Illinois Challenge and unveil the department’s newly-designed Illinois Product logo.

The Buy Illinois Challenge encourages every Illinois household to dedicate $10 of their weekly grocery budget to the purchase of Illinois products.  If every household made this pledge, it would generate more than $2.4 billion a year for the Illinois economy.  Residents can go online at www.buyillinoischallenge.com to take the pledge beginning today (July 17).