CENTRAL ILLINOIS LOCAL FOOD INNOVATION CENTER HOW A COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD SYSTEM BUILDS THE LOCAL ECONOMY A place to process local foods Services include washing, grading, slicing, bagging and/or storing produce Value-added processing (e.g. jams, salsas, pestos, baked goods) Other services may include product aggregation, brokering, marketing and distribution; inventory storage & management, entrepreneurial education, training, and support A place to process local foods Services include washing, grading, slicing, bagging and/or storing produce Value-added processing (e.g. jams, salsas, pestos, baked goods) Other services may include product aggregation, brokering, marketing and distribution; inventory storage & management, entrepreneurial education, training, and support We have the consumers ISU Dining Services is committed to buying local foods starting in More and more individuals, businesses, and institutions are asking for local foods. We have the consumers ISU Dining Services is committed to buying local foods starting in More and more individuals, businesses, and institutions are asking for local foods. We have the farmers 4,719 farms of less than $100,000 annual sales in the 9 central IL counties we targeted We have the farmers 4,719 farms of less than $100,000 annual sales in the 9 central IL counties we targeted Money spent on local food recycles through our economy an average of 7x $1 spent on non-Illinois food returns only 20 cents to the local economy $1 spent on locally produced food returns $1.34 to the local economy Buying just 15% of food from regional farmers produces $100 million in new farm income Money spent on local food recycles through our economy an average of 7x $1 spent on non-Illinois food returns only 20 cents to the local economy $1 spent on locally produced food returns $1.34 to the local economy Buying just 15% of food from regional farmers produces $100 million in new farm income We have a significant opportunity 95% of the food eaten in Illinois is imported from outside our borders Most of the $48 billion we spend annually for food leaves the Illinois economy We have a significant opportunity 95% of the food eaten in Illinois is imported from outside our borders Most of the $48 billion we spend annually for food leaves the Illinois economy We have the capacity to do more Illinois has the capacity to produce 44% of the food consumed within the state Producing at this capacity would keep an additional $19 billion per year in the Illinois economy We have the capacity to do more Illinois has the capacity to produce 44% of the food consumed within the state Producing at this capacity would keep an additional $19 billion per year in the Illinois economy What is a Local Food Innovation Center? What is a Local Food Innovation Center? PROCESSED ELSEWHERE GROWN ELSEWHERE GROWN & PROCESSED HERE We’re in the right place at the right time! McLean County is centrally located at the confluence of three major interstates with easy access to Chicago, where the interest in locally produced foods is at an all-time high We’re in the right place at the right time! McLean County is centrally located at the confluence of three major interstates with easy access to Chicago, where the interest in locally produced foods is at an all-time high Why is it important?   Why now?  Why here? 