4. SUMMARY OF LISTENING SESSIONS AND SURVEYS
A) What’s Working in the Illinois Food System
Stakeholders shared what is working at the state, regional, county and community level.
In our statewide listening sessions and online surveys, we consistently asked, “What’s working?” These are some examples:
We learned that passionate advocates, fertile lands, and innovative programs are driving this vibrant movement for sustainable, local agriculture. Participants shared examples like Boone County’s expanding farmer base, the Down at the Farms farmer marketing and distribution network, as well as urban farms like those in Chicago’s North Lawndale that are transforming spaces like churches into agricultural hubs. We also heard that collaborative networks, such as Illinois Extension and the state’s 300-plus farmers markets, paired with policies like the LFIG, are enhancing food access, transparency, and equity. And participants told us that cottage bakeries, mobile markets, and concepts like Food is Medicine are helping fortify a more resilient food system.
See Appendix B, What’s Working in the Illinois Food System, for a broad list of participant responses.
B) What’s Not Working; What Are the Barriers
We also asked participants in our statewide listening sessions and online surveys, “What’s not working?”
We heard from participants that there are significant barriers hindering Illinois’ local food production and consumption efforts. Dominated by large producers and consolidated industries, the market marginalizes small farmers, who face high costs, limited land access, and inadequate infrastructure. Black, Latino, and other minority farmers lack sufficient representation, support, and access to resources across the state. Regulatory hurdles, such as costly GAP certifications and restrictive zoning, are also impeding small-scale operations. Additionally, insufficient marketing, coordination, and education disconnect communities from local food, and federal funding cuts exacerbate economic challenges for farmers and food-insecure areas.
See Appendix B, What’s Not Working in the Illinois Food System, for a broad list of participant responses.
C) Solutions
We also encouraged participants to use their creativity to offer solutions to the challenges and barriers they see in the food system.
Emphasizing collaboration, participants proposed solutions including fostering peer learning, creating knowledge hubs, and building inclusive networks to connect farmers, nonprofits, and communities. They also emphasized specific policy reforms, such as revising the Farm Bill to support specialty crops and local procurement, which they said would break down barriers for new farmers and enhance affordability for consumers. Participants advocated for greater investments in infrastructure, like processing facilities and food hubs, alongside education initiatives for youth and communities, which they said would make local food more accessible, sustainable, and foster stronger urban-rural ties.
See Appendix B, What Are Solutions, for a broad list of participant responses.