96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB0015

 

Introduced 1/30/2009, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
505 ILCS 84/5

    Amends the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning locally grown and organic food.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB0015 LRB096 07573 RCE 17668 b

1     AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act is
5 amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 
6     (505 ILCS 84/5)
7     Sec. 5. Legislative findings.
8     Illinois should be the Midwest leader in local and and
9 organic food and fiber production.
10     One thousand five hundred miles is the average travel
11 distance for food items now consumed in this State, and
12 agricultural products sold directly for human consumption
13 comprise less than 0.2% of Illinois farm sales.
14     Ninety-five percent of organic food sold in this State is
15 grown and processed outside of the State, resulting in food
16 dollars being exported.
17     Illinois ranks fifth in the nation in loss of farmland.
18     The market for locally grown foods and for organic food is
19 expanding rapidly.
20     Consumers would benefit from additional local food outlets
21 that make fresh and affordable Illinois grown foods more
22 accessible in both rural and urban communities.
23     Communities are experiencing significant problems of

 

 

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1 obesity and nutrition, including lack of daily access to fresh
2 fruits and vegetables.
3     Low-income communities that are currently "food deserts"
4 lacking sufficient markets selling fresh fruits and vegetables
5 would benefit from local food distribution systems.
6     The State's urban communities are showing renewed interest
7 in growing food in urban areas.
8     Rural communities would be revitalized by increasing the
9 number of families in the State that live on small properties
10 and by providing fresh high-value local food.
11     Farmers who wish to transition from conventional
12 agriculture to local and organic food would benefit from
13 training and support to diversify their farming operations.
14     Food consumers, farmers, and entrepreneurs would benefit
15 from an expanded infrastructure for processing, storing, and
16 distributing locally grown foods.
17     The capture of existing food dollars within the State would
18 help to revitalize the State's treasury by creating a broad
19 range of new in-state jobs and business opportunities within
20 both rural and urban communities.
21     For the purposes of this Act and for the retention of the
22 greatest benefit from every food dollar spent in this State,
23 support for local food means capturing in Illinois the greatest
24 portion of food production, processing, storing, and
25 distribution possible.
26 (Source: P.A. 95-145, eff. 8-14-07.)