BUY LOCAL BUY
The Lake County
Food System LOCAL
Find a Local Farmers Market:
maps.lakecountyil.gov/farmersmarket
B UY LOC AL :
TH E LAKE C O U N T Y F O O D S YST EM
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Local food systems offer many economic, environmental, and
quality-of-life benefits that apply to businesses, residents, and Lake
County as a whole. As consumers, residents benefit from having
more opportunities to buy fresh produce to cook at home or eat at
restaurants. Local entrepreneurs benefit from increased business
opportunities, and our county as a whole benefits from stronger,
more diverse local economies.
SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESS
Purchasing food grown, processed, distributed, and sold locally
supports our neighbors and helps strengthen our local economies
by employing people, generating income, and circulating dollars
within our county. Every dollar given to a local farmer can be spent
at other businesses owned by members of the community.
PROVIDES FRESH, HIGH-QUALITY FOOD
When produce travels only 10 to 25 miles from farm to table rather
than across the country or the world, it takes less time and is much
fresher when it arrives. Fruits and vegetables shipped from distant
farms can spend up to two weeks in transit, while farmers market
produce is often picked just a day or two prior. Minimizing
transportation and processing increases the freshness, flavor, and
nutrient retention of produce.
REDUCES FOOD MILES
The distance food travels from farm to plate -- referred to as "food
miles" -- affects its impact on the environment. The average food
item travels 1,500 miles, compared to the average locally produced
item that travels only a fraction of that. Although food miles
account for only 11 percent of the food system's greenhouse gas
emissions, a reduction of food miles also reduces the impact that
rising fuel costs have on food prices.
HELPS MANAGE WASTE
A food system can also be a waste management technique and
energy producer. By promoting a "closed loop" food system, in
which every stage of the food system is used as a resource, the
region can divert food waste from our landfills. An estimated 41
percent of U.S. food waste goes to landfills, where it takes up space
and releases methane. The nutrients lost when food is landfilled
could be retained and reused by composting food scraps for use in
local food production, home gardens, or landscaping, thereby
reducing the need for fertilizers. Additionally, food waste can be
integrated into animal feed or converted into renewable energy and
fuel.
BUILDS SENSE OF COMMUNITY
The production and consumption of local foods can create a
thriving culture, regional identity, and a sense of community
heritage. For example, a Saturday farmers market is more than just
a retail outlet to buy food. It also provides a social gathering spot
for the community and allows people to meet the farmers who grow
their food.
Benefits of Buying Local
Economic Potential: Keeps Money in the State,
Increases Farm Income and Jobs, and Supports
Local Business
Improved Quality of Life: Provides Fresh,
High-Quality Food and Promotes a Sense of
Community
Helps the Environment: Reduces Food Miles and
Gas Emissions, Helps Manage Waste, and
Promotes the Preservation of Farmland
For more information: www.cmap.illinois.gov/food