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Economic Development Through Agriculture
The Knox County Board is supportive of an idea to produce more locally grown produce to distribute to a number of outlets in the county, state, and across the country.

The board, Wednesday night, heard from Gary Tomlin, who suggests encouraging community residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables that they could sell either on a local scale or to consumers around the country.

Tomlin says a number of factors currently support the idea of more local growers. He cited a new law signed by Governor Pat Quinn which will put more locally grown food on Illinois tables, a growing consumer desire to know where their food comes from and a decreasing productivity of other growing areas across the country.

District Five Republican David Serven tells WGIL the program will face some hurdles when starting.

"They need that entrepreneurial spirit. It's something they will have to start on their own. It will solely be their responsibility. There's financing you can get through the farm service agency that will help out beginning farmers or someone just getting started but it's solely on that person shoulders to make it work."

Tomlin says there is a demand for locally grown food, it's within the county and the surrounding areas propensity to produce and currently there is only a limited supply so the growth potential is huge.

Serven says he supports the program and likes the idea for growth potential and says the market is there.
08 27 09 by Newsroom
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