By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Two pieces of landmark legislation aimed at vastly expanding the supply of Illinois-grown food available to the state’s consumers and schools were recently signed into law by Gov. Patrick Quinn.

House Bill 3990, sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), is designed to increase demand for locally-produced food by building a reliable market through state-owned or operated agencies and facilities that receive significant state support. Another bill recently signed by Quinn, HB 78, will link schools with local and regional farms to supply Illinois-grown products in cafeterias, vending machines, salad bars and snacks.

HB 3990
“I salute Illinois farmers and business leaders who work hard every day to boost our state’s economy,” Quinn said before signing HB 3990 into law during a special ceremony at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 17. “They have made Illinois one of the largest food-producing states in the nation. This legislation helps make sure that more of the food they produce is eaten in Illinois.”

The bill authorizes the formation of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council. The Council will be charged with working with state agencies, Illinois businesses, organizations and consumers to facilitate an active local farm and food market. The action comes after nearly two years of work by the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force to determine the potential for expanding the state’s food supply. The task force found that only a tiny portion of the $48 billion spent by Illinois residents on food each year was spent on food produced in the state.

The new law’s proponents claim that by establishing a supply chain for processing and transporting locally grown food to willing markets could help keep some $30 billion within Illinois’ economy each year.

HB 78
Encouraging the consumption of locally-produced food will help schools fight childhood obesity, according to bill sponsor Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria).

His Farm Fresh Schools Program, created by HB 78, will link schools with local and regional farms in order to provide minimally-processed foods for use in school nutrition programs.

“Obesity is an epidemic in this country, and research shows that obese children are more likely to become obese adults,” Koehler stated in a news release dated Aug. 10. “We need to try new and creative ways to encourage children to make good health choices.”
To qualify for the program, which will be jointly administered by the State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, schools must prepare grant proposals for submittal to the agencies.