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Little Food Eaten in in IL Actually Grown in State
(IRN)-Here's some food for thought: nearly all food eaten in Illinois was grown somewhere else. A state council warns that could have dire consequences.

Johari Cole, co-director of the Local Food Farms and Jobs council, says her group's mission is to ensure 20 percent of all food consumed in the state is grown locally by the year 2020. Right now, only .2% of what you find in Illinois stores is grown here.

"If there were a truck embargo tomorrow because of high gas [prices], and our truckers decided to go on strike because of diesel prices [and] they can't afford to drive," says Cole. "Just think. 99.8% of your food is imported in through those trucks."

The council is looking at a variety of programs to help more products stay in the state. For example, the Department of Corrections is testing a program that would hire released inmates to grow and market fresh produce, particularly in so-called "food deserts" in inner city areas.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
06 09 11 by Newsroom
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