Due to licensing discrepancies, the Chicago Health Department destroyed local fruit used by small business owners at Kitchen Chicago, a shared community kitchen.
Beyond USDA, government agencies can play a significant role in supporting local food systems. Read the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's full report.
Out of 26.8 million acres of farmland in Illinois, only 0.1% is devoted to organic production.
Angelic Organics Learning Center is organizing season extension, bee keeping, and backyard chicken workshops in the coming months. Register here.
According to a 2009 Gallup poll, 17.2% of Illinois households are food insecure.
USDA will initiate a series of reforms to improve school lunch safety standards.
In addition to the $50 million allocated for USDA and the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, there will be $250 million in the 2011 budget for the Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund "to expand financing for access to healthy foods."
(Photo credit: Fed Up: School Lunch Project)