Growing Local: Rise in farmers’ markets, community gardens fuel economy, discussion and needs

Image of a pitchfork

Approximately 95 percent of the food we eat in Illinois comes from someplace else.

The farmland in Illinois is some of the richest in the nation and the state’s economy is one of the worst.

A growing number of people in central Illinois are working together to build clusters of regional food businesses to aid economic recovery and increase residents’ access to fresh food.

Illinois Public Media and CU-CitizenAccess.org collaborated to explore the idea of “local” foods as a strategy for economic recovery in Illinois and the nation and dig into specific efforts in central Illinois.

For radio interviews and discussions, please visit Illinois Public Media.

Photography: Pam G. Dempsey; George Hovorka; Lisa Braddock

Follow the story on Twitter: #localfood

Leave a Reply