Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Support Local Food in Illinois

Governor Pat Quinn signed into law House Bill 3990 which will help build a local food system in Illinois.  The signing ceremony was held at the Illinois State Fair as a part of Agriculture Day and demonstrates the broad scope of the local food movement in Illinois.  The legislation's key elements include:

• Formation of the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council, which will work with state agencies, Illinois businesses, organizations and Illinoisans to build an active local farm and food market.
• Establishment of local food procurement goals for state agencies to purchase 20 percent of their food locally by 2020. State funded institutions such as schools would have a goal of 10 percent by 2020.
• Creation of a local food purchase preference for state-owned food buyers that allows them to pay a premium of up to 10 percent above thelowest bid in order to purchase locally grown goods.

Go to the Illinois Food Farms and Jobs website here.