I just wanted to share with all of you my new Op-Ed on the Farm Bill and
Local Food

http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1018072948/Wes-King-Tap-into-huge-econo...

Tap into huge economic potential for local food

While much of the national conversation on food and farm issues has focused
on lean finely textured beef — “pink slime” — we are missing an important
opportunity to move forward with creating a more economically,
environmentally and socially just food and farm system. The opportunity I’m
talking about is the next five-year farm bill that congress is currently
writing. The farm bill is a comprehensive package of federal legislation
that structures our country’s food and farm system— and if you eat, then
you are impacted by the farm bill.

Instead of focusing solely on “pink slime,” we should be paying attention
to the positive developments that are occurring all over the country. There
has been phenomenal growth and interest in farmers markets, local food
systems and sustainable agriculture over the last decade. According to the
USDA, in 2000 there were fewer than 3,000 farmers markets operating across
the United States. In 2011, that number had more than doubled to more than
7,000. In Illinois, we now have more than 300 farmers markets operating
throughout the state.

Economic development, planning  and community officials are beginning to
recognize the tremendous economic potential local food could have. Here in
Illinois, more than 95 percent of the food Illinoisans eat comes from
beyond Illinois’ borders; imagine the impact those food dollars would have
circulating through rural, suburban and urban communities in Illinois. A
recent study of 32 counties in central Illinois found that if consumers
bought 15 percent of their food directly from Illinois farmers, it would
mean an additional $639 million in new farm income!

While farmers producing commodities such as corn, soybeans, rice and wheat
benefit from crop insurance, direct payments and a number of other policies
and programs, the small and mid-sized farmers who are growing a wide
variety of fruits and vegetables that make up the majority of local food
producers generally can’t access those benefits. Despite the increased
demand for local food, government policies and programs have been slow to
catch up.
It’s time to level the playing field. One of the proposals on the table
right now is the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act, sponsored by Sen. Sherrod
Brown, D-Ohio, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and the bill would do
just that.

The legislation would create new economic opportunities for small and
mid-sized farmers and ranchers, improve local processing and distribution
infrastructure, expand access to healthy food for all consumers, and
provide the research and training that farm entrepreneurs need to be
successful. Eighty members of the House and Senate have co-sponsored this
legislation and more than 275 farm, food, public health and consumer groups
have endorsed it.

Recognizing the economic potential and public health benefits of local
food, earlier this spring the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives
adopted resolutions (SR 530 and HR 734) that urge Congress to adopt a farm
bill that supports and promotes the development of local food systems.
Illinois’ congressional delegation has an opportunity to show its support
for local food systems in the next farm bill by co-sponsoring the Local
Farms, Food and Jobs Act.

All of us who care about fresh healthy local food, small farmers and
ranchers, farmers markets, public health, job creation and community
revitalization have an opportunity to contact our U.S senators and
representatives and ask them to co-sponsor the Local Farms, Food and Jobs
Act.

*Wes King is policy coordinator with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.*

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Wes King
Policy Coordinator
Illinois Stewardship Alliance
*"Local Food Matters"*
217-528-1563
www.ilstewards.org