In 2007, concerned consumers in Chicago teamed with State Representative Julie Hamos (D-Evanston) about the needs of Chicago and urban centers in general for high quality local and organic foods.  As a result, Rep. Hamos partnered with Senator Jackie Collins (D-  ) to propose HB 1300, which passed and became the Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs Act (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0145) .  As evidence of its popularity, over 70% of the legislature signed on as sponsors.

The Act authorized the Illinois Department of Agriculture to appoint a task force, comprised of 32 members  (http://www.agr.state.il.us/marketing/ILOFFTaskForce/Bios.pdf )  representing major  stakeholder groups of the Illinois food system.  The Task Force first met in January 2008, elected officers and began working on their charge, the creation of a report to the Department of Agriculture which would describe the current status of the Illinois food system, then proposed actions which would increase the availability of nutritious, good tasting food from local farmers, and keep more jobs and resources in Illinois.

The Task Force meets monthly as a whole, while committees on Production, Infrastructure, Consumer Access, Media and Education, and Economics generally communicate more often.  The goal is to have an accurate and compelling report in the hands of the Department of Agriculture by the first of September for review, with a final copy released by September 30. 

To better publicize the Task Force’s activities and to gain access to the broadest possible input, listening sessions are being held across the state.  The input from these sessions will be seriously considered in developing the final report.

Further information can be gathered from the Task Force’s website:

http://www.agr.state.il.us/marketing/Mkt_ILOFFTaskForce.html