Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn recently signed landmark legislation that will put the state on the road to a vastly expanded supply of Illinois-grown food for Illinois tables.
During a ceremony held on the front lawn of the home of Department of Agriculture (located on the Illinois State Fairgrounds), Governor Quinn said the legislation represents an important first step in a process that could ultimately bring as much as $30 billion a year to the state’s economy.
“Agriculture is a diverse, multi-billion dollar industry that employs nearly one-quarter of the state’s workforce. Simply stated, agriculture is the largest industry in the state and vital to our economy,” said Governor Quinn at the “Ag Day” event. “Standing in sharp contrast is the fact that nearly 96% of the food eaten in Illinois is grown in other states or nations. The legislation I signed will stimulate the rapidly growing efforts across Illinois to grow food for local consumption. As traditional Illinois farmers, local food organizations, and others respond to demand for locally-grown food, there will be an enormous amount of new economic activity in our agricultural sector and thousands of new jobs across the state.”
The new law is designed to greatly increase demand for locally grown food by starting the process of building a reliable market for local food at facilities and institutions, like public schools, that receive significant state support. Also, the legislation establishes the Illinois Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council, which will encourage farmers to grow food for local markets and facilitate the building of the systems needed to get it there.
The legislation caps almost two year’s effort by the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force to determine the potential for Illinois to grow and produce food for consumption within the state and in neighboring states. A study released by the Task Force earlier this year, Local Food, Farms & Jobs: Growing the Illinois Economy, revealed that of the approximately $48 billion spent by Illinoisans on food each year, only a tiny fraction is grown in Illinois. A set of straightforward measures to encourage Illinois farmers to grow food for local consumption, coupled with a system for processing and transporting the food to Illinois markets could bring an estimated $30 billion to the state’s economy each year.
“I believe economic development begins in the kitchen.”
“I believe economic development begins in the kitchen,” said Illinois Agriculture Director Tom Jennings. “There is no question we can produce locally grown fruits, nuts, and vegetables. We also have the processing and packaging capabilities right here in our own backyard. Setting up a distribution system that moves items at reasonable cost from tree or vine to the table is the big challenge and this legislation is an important step toward realizing that goal.”
“This legislation is the first step in creating a fresh farm and food system in Illinois that will bring important benefits to every corner of our state,” said Representative Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), lead sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives. “As Illinoisans meet the increased demand for fresh food grown within the state, every community’s economy will see the benefits. New jobs will be created as the system to process and transport the food to local markets is developed. Those who live in Illinois and in adjacent states will benefit from the increased supply of fresh, locally-produced food.”
Representative Hamos said that one result of the expanded local food system will be the growth of rural communities through expanded numbers of small and mid-size farmers and larger numbers of people working in agriculture.
“The fact that all but a tiny percentage of the fruits, vegetables, and meats that Illinoisans eat are produced in other states or countries is an astonishing imbalance and presents us with an enormous opportunity.”
“The fact that all but a tiny percentage of the fruits, vegetables, and meats that Illinoisans eat are produced in other states or countries is an astonishing imbalance and presents us with an enormous opportunity,” said the State Senate via Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago), Senate sponsor of the bill.”This legislation is an important step forward that will enable farmers in the state to produce and sell fresh food in underserved communities.”
Key elements of the legislation include:
“This legislation opens the door to a vast expansion of the local farm and food networks in Illinois’ already world-renowned agricultural infrastructure. It encourages Illinois farmers to respond directly to consumers’ demand for fresh, tasty, locally-produced foods, and shows how to do it,” said Wes Jarrell, chairman of the 32-member task force. Jarrell is Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Illinois, and a farmer himself.
“We don’t have to ship in all our fresh food from warm regions when the weather is cold.”
Jarrell noted that food production in Illinois has become a year-round industry as farmers and others adopt techniques for growing food in the winter months as well as the traditional growing seasons. “We don’t have to ship in all our fresh food from warm regions when the weather is cold,” he said, “and with a much greater diversity of cold-season fruits and vegetables, eating what’s locally in season isn’t nearly as boring as it used to be.”
Key findings from the task force report that led to the new legislation include:
ob creation, lending, and investment in the local food system so that entrepreneurs can grow the economy. By participating in this effort, Illinois is helping to create a new form of interstate commerce.
The legislation (HB3990: Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act of 2009), the report of the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force, and other information is available at www.foodfarmsjobs.org.
This is amazing legislation, and I’m eager to see what changes Illinois can put into place. One question: Who is creating such a bill in Missouri, and if the answer is no one, how can we band together to do so ourselves?
