By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

More Illinois-grown food soon could be heading to Illinois tables.

Gov. Pat Quinn was to sign legislation today designed to bring an estimated $30 billion a year to the state's economy through a local food, farm and jobs system.

The bill signing during Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield follows two years of work by the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force to determine the potential for growing and producing food for consumption in the state and neighboring states.

"It's good that the state government recognized the importance of a sustainable local economy and how it can affect everyone," said Gerry Kettler, director of consumer affairs for Niemann Foods Inc., who served on the task force's consumer access committee.

He said more people are interested in knowing where food comes from and making a connection with people who produce it.

"With the recent economy, it's good to get back to some of the basics, get back to what's important to you," Kettler said. "This movement is a reflection of that. I think the entire program will continue to grow as the farmers rally and support it. The grocery stores certainly have more opportunity to sell local items, and the consumers purchase it."

The task force issued a report in March highlighting a local farm and feed development strategy that officials say could trigger $20 billion to $30 billion in new economic activity annually, creating thousands of new jobs while revitalizing rural communities.

"What this will do is form a statewide council that will be able to follow up on the recommendations," said Carrie Edgar, University of Illinois Extension Adams/Brown Unit leader who was chairman of the task force's education committee. "The research has been done. The recommendations are there. This is the logical next step on how we move it forward."

Even though Illinois has one of the nation's largest agricultural economies, only about 5 percent of the state's estimated $48 billion in annual spending on food goes toward products grown in the state. The task force hopes to increase the amount of money spent on Illinois-grown food.

"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," Illinois Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said in a news release.

"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."

The task force, launched in January 2008, highlighted several obstacles to "growing" local food production and use, including a lack of processing infrastructure and funding, especially for beginning farmers or conventional farmers looking to diversify.

Funding also is an issue for the task force and its recommendations.

"We didn't even ask for that, recognizing now isn't the time to ask the state to fund a new program," Edgar said. "Hopefully as each of these recommendations come to fruition, there will be funding tied to them."

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379

WHAT: Governor Patrick Quinn will sign landmark legislation on Tuesday, Aug 18th that could lead to a vastly expanded supply of Illinois-grown food on Illinois tables. Known as HB3990, this new law could ultimately bring an estimated $30 billion a year to the state's economy through a local food, farm, and jobs system.

WHEN: Event begins at 12pm, Tuesday, August 18. Signing ceremony at 12:30.

WHERE: Front Lawn of the home of Department of Agriculture Director Tom Jennings at the State Fairgrounds, Springfield.

WHO: Governor Pat Quinn & Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force

BACKGROUND: The new law is designed to greatly increase demand for locally grown food by building a reliable market, initially at state owned or operated facilities and institutions or those that 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.

This new legislation comes after almost two year's of 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, as well as 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 keep an estimated $30 billion within the state's economy each year.

On September 4th the Tri-State Locally Grown Conference will be held in Fairfield, IA from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information or to register, visit www.travelfairfieldiowa.com/food-conference/.

The National Small Farms Conference will be held in Springfield on September 15-17. The conference brings together land grant universities, community-based organizations and other stakeholders who work with small farmers and ranchers. The conference aims to strengthen collaboration and partnership among groups and provide an opportunity to share new ideas in research, extension and outreach. http://www.conferences.uiuc.edu/conferences/conferenceviewer2/view.cfm?conf=20033.

Fresh from the farm and the fields, Macomb's second annual Summer Dinner will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 8. The event, which features an array of local foods, is hosted by the Food Initiatives Group (FIG) and will again be held at the Sullivan Taylor Coffee House and neighboring Taylor Hall on Macomb's historic downtown Square.

With a menu to tempt any palate, the meal will be served in three courses, beginning with a tomato and cheese bruschetta and ending with a succulent lemon pound cake with fresh blueberry jam and creme fraiche. Guests will have a choice of braised chicken topped with corn salsa, braised beef tenderloin with caramelized shallots and red wine jus, or Shitake mushroom polenta tart as a vegetarian/vegan option. All entrees are served with wheat berry salad and whole wheat French baguettes. Guests are welcome to purchase wine or beer from The Wine Sellers during the dinner.

"It's a very magical night in Macomb, supplied by people who care for our earth and environment," said Vajo Necak, FIG member and organizer of the event. He added that last year's dinner guests commented that the food was "delightful and exquisite."

In an effort to fulfill its mission of involving community members in supporting a fair, sustainable and local food system, all the fruits and vegetables for the dinner are locally grown and the meats are from nearby farms. The produce will be purchased from Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups in Macomb, LaHarpe and Good Hope, as well as the Macomb Farmers' Market vendors. The beef and chicken are raised on farms in Macomb, Plymouth and Colchester and are grass-fed and free range. The dinner will also feature bread made from wheat grown in Macomb, mushrooms from Vermont, IL, blueberries from Oquawka, and herbs from Macomb and Adair.

Attendees will receive a guide to over 50 sources of locally grown or prepared foods and will have the opportunity to meet some of these producers face to face.

Necak said there is a nationwide movement toward buying locally grown foods for health, financial and environmental reasons.
"When you eat locally grown food it means you are receiving the freshest produce and meats from a local farmer," he said. "And it is supporting local agriculture and the local economy, which infuses our money in our area.

"By buying and supporting local foods, people are reducing the carbon footprint that comes from delivering foods from far away places. It makes common sense to buy locally and support a new profitable industry that is not only healthy to our bodies but to our environment," Necak said. "Get on board."

Tickets are now on sale for $30 each and seating is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Scott Worl at 309-221-1879 or email leslietimlin@hotmail.com. Tickets are also for sale at New Copperfield's Book Service in Macomb.

FIG is a grassroots non-profit group whose members believe that local food systems build community, enhance food security, grow the local economy, and can improve environmental protection. For more information about FIG and its programs, visit www.macombfig.org.

Contact: Scott Worl, 309-221-1879