For Part 2, the Policy and Program Scan, Fresh Taste and Openlands conducted an initial, not exhaustive, scan of the policies and programs promoting or discouraging local food systems in the Study Region. The Policy Scan provides a high-level overview of current laws, regulations and policies as well as programs across the Study Region, providing a snapshot of state and county level regulations and incentive programs that currently drive and deter the local food movement. Policies related to agricultural land use and preservation; economic and workforce development; community building; as well as research, tools, and reports; were cataloged for the 38 counties in the Study Region, including counties in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The scan offers descriptions of a range of policies and programs but does not provide extensive analysis or determine implications for the food system.
The Chicago Local Food System Study
An Analysis of Opportunity for Local Foods
The Chicago Local Food System Study 