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Illinois bill promotes locally grown food

At the Illinois State Fair this week, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that he says will increase demand for locally-grown food.

The bill sets a goal that by 2020, state agencies buy 20 percent of their food locally and state-funded institutions, such as schools, buy 10 percent of their food locally.

“When people need to eat in Illinois we like to have locally produced products wherever possible and healthy products that are good for all of us,” said Governor Quinn, speaking to reporters following the bill signing Tuesday in Springfield, Illinois.

AUDIO: Governor Pat Quinn (1 min. MP3)

The bill also allows the agencies to pay up to 10 percent above the low bid for locally grown food.

“That’s part of the mission, to see if in the long run it’s more economical to have locally grown agriculture that creates jobs in our own back yard,” the Governor said.

A study released by the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force indicates that of the approximately $48 billion spent for food each year in Illinois, only about $2 billion-worth is grown in Illinois.

“We have to understand,” said Governor Quinn, “anytime we’re buying outside of Illinois we’re not really creating economic development in our own state.”