Why Not Indiana?

To start off, let's take a look at recent food policy legislation passed in Illinois.

Illinois Food, Farms, and Jobs

Last August the Illinois governor Pat Quinn signed the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Act of 2009. This is a piece of legislation that seeks to improve the state's economy by improving its food systems. Here's what it does:
1- creates the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council, a new agency (fiscally independent from state government) that promotes and facilitates the sale of Illinois-grown food in local markets;
2- working with the Council, state-owned cafeterias set the goal of buying 20%, and any state-funded institutions set the goal of buying 10%, of their food from within the state by 2020. That includes such institutions as public universities, mental health facilities, correctional facilities, etc. (Currently this figure is around 5% for Illinois.);
3- creates and implements of an “Illinois product” labeling system, administered by the Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council.
Read it for yourself.

This legislation was based on recommendations made by the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force which was created in 2007 through the Food, Farms and Jobs Act of 2007. Their illuminating and thorough report can downloaded here. Recommended reading!

Years of pressure by grassroots groups on government officials in Illinois made this happen. In fact, Illinois's state legislators passed this legislation unanimously (excepting one single state senator). Imagine!

Wouldn't Indiana benefit from having such a council? The accelerating interests here in eating locally, farmers' markets, CSAs, cooperatives, community gardens, and organics show that Indiana is actively changing its food landscape even if policy lags far behind.