CCFB News» October 2024

In 2021, Cook County Farm Bureau® proposed and Farm Bureau delegates approved the Farm Bureau’s  first urban agriculture policy, which was subsequently incorporated into the American Farm Bureau Federation® policy book and is now nationwide policy. This policy provides that urban agriculture generally refers to the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban settings.

Urban farming has grown by more than 30% in the U.S. in the last 30 years.

Generally, the policy supports:

• The importance of urban agriculture and its contribution to the agricultural economy.
• Farm Bureau working with units of government to develop agriculture-friendly policies.
• Using land management tools such as land banks, land trusts, conservation easements, and long-term leases on public and private lands so urban agriculture can flourish.
• Ensuring that urban agricultural sites have access to affordable clean water sources.
• Diverting organic waste into compost.
• Using raised beds or hydroponics to address soil-quality concerns.
• Using season extension tools such as indoor facilities and high tunnels.
• Providing job training and skills development to beginning farmers and garden managers.

Farm Bureau’s urban agriculture policy along with its food access policy provides the basis for Farm Bureau’s efforts related to food and growing food.

According to recent estimates from Northwestern University, economists point to 19 percent of Chicago Metro area households and 21 percent of households with children experiencing food insecurity – similar levels seen during the first few months of the pandemic. Local Black and Hispanic households experience food insecurity at approximately double the rate of local White households – similar trends to a 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture report. (Source: Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University provided by Dr. Diane Schanzenbach, Food Depository board member.)

The Food Depository believes that food insecurity in 2024 is trending above what the USDA reports for last year. From January through June of this year, the Food Depository’s network of food pantries and grocery programs averaged more than 200,000 household visits each month, an increase of more than 24 percent compared to the same period in 2023 (according to September 4, 2024, statement on the release of the USDA’s Household Food Security Report of 2023).

Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Farm Bureau remains actively engaged in conversations and local legislation related to food access. Recently, Cook CFB has advocated on the following issues:

Property Tax Incentives for Grocery Stores Located in Food Deserts

Ordinance 22-5345 and follow-up amendments creates a special tax incentive available for grocery stores located in food deserts. The incentive is available for expansion or renovation of a grocery store, new construction of a grocery store, or re-use of vacant commercial space for a grocery store located in a food desert.

For the purpose of this ordinance food desert is an area within the county lacking fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthy whole foods, in part due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers' markets, or healthy food providers. In order to be eligible for the incentive, at least 55% of a grocery store’s workforce must be employed on a full-time basis.

The ordinance provides for property tax reduction for the first 10 years and for any subsequent 10-year renewal periods, or if the incentive is not renewed, a 15 percent reduction in year 11 and 20 percent reduction in year 12. The incentive may be renewed once.

Cook CFB actively supported the ordinance, which was approved in October of 2022.

Food is Medicine

Resolution 23-5456 recognizes the concept that food is medicine and that access to high-quality food is important in the management and prevention of chronic disease and obesity. The resolution also:

• Creates the “Food is Medicine” advertising campaign.
• Builds upon existing healthy food programs throughout Cook County Health System.
• Creates a Food Security Program Manager within Cook County Health System to prioritize equitable food security impact on health outcomes.
• Engages organizations to provide fresh produce for “Food is Medicine” programming.
• Creates a “Food is Medicine” educational interactive website.
• Creates a “Food Passport” program in partnership with local restaurants.

Cook CFB actively supported the resolution, which was approved in November of 2023.

Farm Bureau is in the process of developing a newsletter for state legislators that will detail its efforts related to urban agriculture and food access. A copy of the newsletter will be available to members and partners later this year.