Local Food Systems Leadership

FamilyFarmed.org has a history of providing leadership in the local food systems arena through participation in councils, speaking engagements, conferences, meetings, and through consulting. FamilyFarmed.org helped pass the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act and is represented on the Illinois Food Farms and Jobs Council and on the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council. We also conduct research and consult on Local Food Hub development, an important component of developing regional food systems. Food Hubs are an integral part of the infrastructure necessary to aggregate product from family farmers, and then process, pack, sell, and transport the product, all while meeting the quality and food safety needs of wholesale buyers. FamilyFarmed.org has produced studies in Illinois and Virginia looking at the need for produce food hubs and is currently working on developing business plans in both states.